Conrad Thake and Janica Buhagiar will today deliver a joint lecture titled ‘The Ta’ Braxia Cemetery’ in Għajnsielem. This lecture will be based on their recently-published book of the same title.

Ta’ Braxia cemetery in Pietà was designed and planned by Maltese architect Emmanuele Luigi Galizia (1830–1907), the first extra-mural cemetery to be established in Malta.

The book narrates the challenging religio-political context that prevailed during the mid-19th century and the steadfast determination of the British colonial government, then headed by Governor Sir William Reid, to implement this project for the “formation of a cemetery at Ta’ Braxia for all denominations without distinction of creed”, even when faced by opposition from conservative Catholic quarters.

It traces the foundation of the cemetery from its establishment in 1855-1857, to its physical expansion around 1880. It also considers the distinctive qualities and characteristics of a garden cemetery and the diverse typology and rich iconographical symbolism of the various funerary monuments at Ta’ Braxia. It also covers the origins and history of the Lady Rachel Hamilton Gordon chapel (1893–94), which is the main architectural icon of the cemetery. Thake is an architect, urban planner and architectural historian and is currently an associate professor in the Department of Art and History of Art at the University of Malta.

Buhagiar graduated in history of art at the University of Malta (2010) and completed her post-graduate studies with a Master’s degree in history of art (2013), focusing on funerary art and architecture.  She currently works with Heritage Malta as an assistant curator.

The lecture will be held at the Santa Cecilia medieval chapel in Għajnsielem today at 6.30pm. It is organised by Wirt Għawdex and is open to the public for free. Seats can be reserved by e-mailing your request to membership@wirtghawdex.org.