Parish Church of
The Annunciation of Our Lady in Balzan

For many years, Balzan used to be part of the parochial territory of Birkirkara. However, on 19th March 1655, the parishioners put forward a petition asking the bishop to separate Balzan from Birkirkara, making Balzan an autonomous parish. The petition also highlighted the need for a new church which would tend to the religious needs of the community which was growing steadily. That same year, in August, the Bishop accepted the petition, and on 14th August Balzan become an autonomous parish. 

On 26th December 1669, the first stone of the church was laid during a ceremony attended by enthusiastic parishioners. 

The construction of the Church was finalised in 1695. This Church takes the form of a Latin cross, with a nave and a choir, as well as two transepts. The architect who designed the church remains unknown. It is of a Doric-Tuscan style, yet the Ionic order was used for the ceilings. 

The painting on the dome is work of the Maltese artist Giuseppe Calì in 1894, and shows the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Calì was also responsible for the painting of the four Evangelists in the principal pendentives, as well as the small dome above the choir, and the two popes above the apse. The rest of the ceiling, together with the small domes and the two transepts, as well as the remaining part of the transept of the Crucifix, is the work of the painter Emvin Cremona. 

Also forming part of the ceiling are the pendentives, the prophets on the windows of the transept of the Rosary, and the ceiling of the nave. All of which were the work of Pawlu Camilleri Cauchi. 

On 15th July 1864, two parishioners presented to the bishop Mons. Gaetano Pace Forno, a petition on behalf of the people of the town, requesting his authorisation to commission a statue of the Annunciation. They also told him that the community was ready to contribute to the expenses for it. The petition was approved by the bishop a few days later. The parishioners of Balzan were in agreement on who was to be appointed as sculptor, and a contract was signed with Salvatore Dimech, a renowned artist and sculptor of great skill

The statue was made out of wood and portrays the figure of Saint Gabriel in front of the Holy Mary. She is kneeling, accepting to be the Mother of God. The statue was jubilantly unveiled in Balzan on 28th March 1869, in the presence of the parishioners.