Lapsi Church in St.Julians

This is the Old Parish Church of Saint Julian, better known as ‘Lapsi Church’.

The first mention of a church dedicated to Saint Julian in the area, then known as 'Qaliet Gnien il-Fieres', can be found in a document relating the pastoral visit of Bishop Tommaso Gargallo to the parish of Birkirkara in 1601. 

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In his report of the Bishop’s pastoral visit, the chancellor accompanying the prelate mentions that this filial church was built in 1593 on the site of yet another church that was heavily frequented by devotees from all over the Island.

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Through a notarial deed in 1682, master mason Bartolomew Camilleri agreed to demolish the Church of Saint Julian and construct another church in its stead.

Following the 1693 earthquake, this church was heavily damaged and eventually Monsignor Gaspare Gori Mancini forced its closure in 1723. 

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However, seven years later Bishop Alpheran de Bussan found that the church had been rebuilt and reopened for worship.

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In 1848, the people of St Julian's submitted a petition to Archbishop Publius Maria Sant requesting a degree of independence from the Parish of Birkirkara and Bishop Sant acceded to their request. 

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On the 1 September 1891, a decree was issued establishing the parish and granting full autonomy from the Collegiate of Birkirkara. 

This church served as Parish Church of St Julian’s until a new parish church was constructed and opened for worship in 1968.

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