A national appeal for the urgent restoration of the chapel adjacent to the Laferla Cross in Siġġiewi was yesterday made by the local council backed by 26 organisations from the town.

Addressing a news conference next to the chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Annunciation, mayor Karol Aquilina expressed concern that the building could collapse in the absence of any urgent intervention.

He said that neither the council nor the Siġġiewi parish had sufficient funds to finance restoration works on the chapel, which is no longer in use due to the dangerous state it is in.

Dr Aquilina said the loss of the chapel would be a loss for the country’s historical and religious heritage. His views were echoed by Siġġiewi Archpriest Can. Joseph Grech.

The organisations that joined the council in the appeal range from football and scouts groups to religious groups.

Though the present building dates back to 1694, a chapel was first built on the site in 1420.

Following the 1429 Muslim attack against Malta, the Siġġiewi faithful would hold an annual pilgrimage to the top of the hill, in thanksgiving for sparing the village from the enemy.

This event used to be held on the feast of Our Lady of Annunciation on March 25 and was still held until the 1930s.

However, the advent of World War II brought the tradition to an end.

The chapel has a single altar which is adorned by a painting by Guido Reni.

It has been rebuilt twice during its history – first in 1693 following the devastating earthquake which ravaged Messina and also affected Malta, and again in 1857 following another seismic event.