The 18th-century carved wooden choir stalls at Our Lady of Victory Church are to be restored after a donation by Simonds Farsons Cisk plc and Farrugia Investments Ltd to Din l-Art Ħelwa.

Simonds Farsons Cisk chairman Louis Farrugia visited the church to have a look at the restoration works, which are now at an advanced stage.

DLĦ president Maria Grazia Cassar, together with council members of the heritage organization, welcomed Mr Farrugia to the church.

Simone Mizzi, overseeing the restoration project, explained that the choir stalls were in a most neglected state and have suffered damage from insect infestations and damp due to their close proximity to the bastion walls of neighbouring St James Cavalier.

One of the peculiarities of Victory church is the fact that its apse was enlarged in the 18th century to allow space for choir stalls to be established behind the main altar. This required the building to penetrate inward through the bastion walls of St James Cavalier and thus also allow for a part cupola to be built.

DLH said the restoration of the choir stalls would also provide a unique moment for studies to be made of the way this extension was built and of the state of the wall abutting into the cavalier.

The Farsons Group, through its foundation, has also supported the restoration of the church and helped to establish its Treasures of the Sacristy Museum.