Idle church clock to be restored

The old church clock at the Kerċem parish church, which has not told the time for the past 30 years, may yet tick again soon.

It is being restored by the Wistin Camilleri Gozo Centre for Arts and Crafts through an initiative supported by the Ministry for Gozo.

The restoration process got underway recently with the dismantling of the clockwork machinery. The project is expected to take about a year.

The restoration presents teachers and participants in the mechanical clock repair and restoration course with a unique hands-on experience.

Minister for Gozo Giovanna Debono made an on-site visit while works on the dismantling of the old clock machinery were being carried out and said the Ministry was committed to the conservation and preservation of these historic treasures and traditions.

The clock, originally made by Gananton Tanti in 1764, was acquired by the Kerċem parish many years later.

The clock had been handed over from father to son along the years and was brought over to Gozo from Senglea.