Restoration works being carried out at the Church of Nativity of Mary in Qormi were this morning visited by Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino.

The church in Triq il-Vitorja, Qormi forms part of the parish of St George. It was built either in 1657 or in 1686 and replaced a previous church that was dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady.

The clock at the belfry tower was built by Michelangelo Sapiano in 1886. In the belfry there are four bells which were manufactured by Gulju Cauchi at the same time the clock was made.

Besides the titular altar on which the painting shows St Anne and St Joachim with baby Mary, there are four other altars in the side. This titular painting was painted in the year 1890 by Giuseppe Cali'. The statue of Mary as a baby was brought to this church in 1942 by the then procurator Gorg Casha.

Several repair and maintenance are being carried out at the church inlcuding cleaning works, replacement of stone, plastic repair and pointing. Visible pipe-work, cables and rusting metal inserts were also removed.