One World - Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of the Maltese islands (36)
St Oswald's chapel
St Oswald's chapel
St Oswald's chapel, located within the grounds of the Mtarfa Military Hospital, is shaped in the form of a Latin cross. The façade and part of the sides are surrounded by a receded veranda which is supported on Doric columns. Abutting the sides are two protruding wings, each with a triangular pediment.
The belfry is large and square, resembling a mausoleum. It has three Florentine windows on each side and each side is topped by a triangular pediment. The belfry is domed with a cross at the top.
St Oswald chapel serves as the Parish Church of Mtarfa since this locality was separated from Rabat.
The chapel was built along with the Mtarfa Military Hospital (later Sir David Bruce). This style of architecture was common to other British military establishments being built during the last decade of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Mepa scheduled St Oswald's chapel as a Grade 1 national monument as per Government Notice no. 628/08 in the Government Gazette dated July 21, 2008.
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Brian Leverett
Sep 12th 2009, 15:22
I was very interested in your recent articles re the protection of the 'Sisters Mess' and the formed British Military Hospital and St Oswalds Chaped at Mtarfa. I was forst posted to this hospital (30 Company Royal Army Medical Corps) as a National Serviceman, aged 18, way back in 1955. Malta and Mtarfa has always been known as a v ery happy posting - especially for me as I celebrated my Golden Wedding Anniversary with may wonderful wife from Rabat! The David Bruce Military Hospital was well known to the Maltese at that time as place where not only service dependants of the RMA were treated but all others of the Local Services. I remember well all the civillian staff staff, ambulance drivers, telephone exchange operators, Mr Pace the Dispenser, clerical staff Harry Rossi and Mr Grima. I also recall my Godfather, Surgeon Major RL Casolani. Look after these places well Malta, they contain an awful lot of history. By the way the the 'Sisters' were not nuns but nursing officers of he Queen Alexandra Army Nursing Corps.
Kyle Mifsud
Aug 19th 2010, 23:15
Hi i am kyle mifsud a member of the mtarfa youth council. we are currently working on a project that involves our history, if you happen to have some photos of back than or have and info about how the place worked we would appreciate if you reply.
regards
kyle mifsud
mtarfa youth council