The Mellieħa parish, dedicated to Marija Bambina, is today marking the 90th anniversary of the baptism of its bells with an open day where people can climb to the steeple to see the bells between 9am and 5pm.

On their way to the belfry, which offers a spectacular view, an exhibition of photos, paintings and flower arrangements by Mellieħa artists has been set up.

Sacristan Christopher Bartolo, who has been taking care of the bells since 1974 – succeeding his father, Lippu – said the bells were meant to be blessed on the feast of the Annunciation, on March 25, 1925. However, the ceremony had to be postponed by a day because of bad weather.

He recalled the day when parishioners headed to Marsam­xett harbour to usher in the five bells. Thousands of people assembled to witness the blessing ceremony, led by Archbishop Mauro Caruana. The names and an image of the namesake saint were etched on the bells: St Francis, St Joseph, St Anthony of Padova, St Paul and Maria Vittoria.

Funds for the bells, cast in Milan, were collected from the parishioners themselves, who were mostly farmers and fishermen.

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