A vast array of documents and manuscripts forming part of the archives of the Archbishop and dating back to the 16th century have been digitised and uploaded to a website for public use.

We trust that people will make use of the wealth of material available

The website, archives.maltadiocese.org, was inaugurated yesterday by Archbishop Paul Cremona.

It shows both ecclesiastical and civil records, such as the official documenting of pastoral visits, benefices, registers, diplomatic correspondence with the Holy See and cabrei (an inventory of properties and plans).

The website also has documents and manuscripts from the archives of the parishes of Malta, which include baptism, confirmation, marriage and funeral records dating from 1555.

The original manuscripts are still housed in their respective parishes.

In 1973, the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library started microfilming the archival collections of the Mdina Cathedral.

Filming was concluded in 1989 with more than 8,000 books and manuscripts copied.

The archives of the Archbishop’s Curia in Floriana were also among the manuscripts microfilmed. But microfilming being an analogue medium, it only allowed limited access to the archives.

Researchers had to physically visit the archive and their studies were constrained by the Curia’s opening hours.

Diocese IT coordinator VicGeorge Vassallo pointed out that Malta’s hot and humid climate shortened the shelf life of the microfilms. Some have deteriorated beyond repair.

The Archdiocese of Malta, in collaboration with Exigy, has therefore transferred all of its microfilms onto digital media.

The microfilm scanning programme started in January and was concluded towards the end of October.

Registration on the site is free and the manuscripts can be viewed in low resolution.

For optimal resolution, manuscript pages can be downloaded at a fee of 50c per page.

“The material available is not only of ecclesiastical interest but is also of historical significance,” Mgr Cremona said.

“It allows us a greater appreciation of our cultural heritage. We trust people will make use of the wealth of material available.”

The transfer of documents to the digital platform is continuing and will see the digitising of other manuscripts in the Mater Dei and Sancte Laurenti archives at the Curia.