One World - Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (83)

The church which is commonly known as Ta' Ġieżu church features Blondel's Baroque façade in a dynamic composition of boldly projecting Doric pilasters and an entablature that rhythmically projects in relation to the underlying vertical elements. Giant order pilasters raised on high plinths accentuate the verticality of the façade.

The church was constructed in 1584 but the façade was replaced in 1680. Restoration works were carried out to the building in 1989. It was constructed contemporarily with St John's Conventual Church during the rule of Grand Master Jean Levesque de La Cassière.

On the southern facing wall of the church is a niche consisting of a highly sculpted stone frame with foliated motifs. The theme of the niche is about death and displays two skull and crossbone carvings as well as a winged hour glass. At the upper centre are two escutcheons, one with the emblem of the Cross of the Crucifixion and another escutcheon below it in which is a marble plaque with a votive inscription in Latin.

A life-size franka stone statue of St Anthony holding the infant Jesus in his left arm and an open book in his left is located on the corner of the church. The statue stands supported by an inverted pyramid with panelled motifs fixed to the corner.

Mepa scheduled the church of Our Lady of Jesus, the niche of Our Lady of Sorrows and the statue of St Anthony as Grade 1 national monuments as per Government Notice number 276/08 in the Government Gazette dated March 28.