From a Thrown Stone to a Sacred Shrine: The Story Behind Gżira’s Parish Church
- ronaldbalzan
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
On 10 July 1902, a dramatic event took place on the Gżira waterfront, near the bridge to Manoel Island. Three British sailors from the Royal Navy, stationed aboard HMS Talbot, had been drinking at local bars. Late in the evening, after being refused service at closing time, they began hurling stones at one of the bar façades. One of those stones hit a small shrine in a window that displayed a picture of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The glass shattered, and the stone lodged itself just behind the sacred image, narrowly missing it.
This act, interpreted by locals as deeply sacrilegious, stirred the community. Ecclesiastical authorities responded with a solemn procession, carrying the image through the streets, followed by three days of prayer. The damaged image, along with the stone, was temporarily moved to Stella Maris parish in Sliema for protection.
Fr. Anton Manche, who would later become Gżira’s first parish priest, began promoting devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the area. He converted a coach house into a small chapel on the same site where the incident occurred. The chapel was so modest that only a few people could enter; the rest stood outside during services. As devotion grew, so did the need for a larger space.
In 1921, Archbishop Maurus Caruana officially established the parish of Gżira. The original small chapel evolved into the present-day Parish Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, built between 1921 and 1935. The church was consecrated in 1959 and includes a distinctive Doric cross-shaped layout, side chapels, and twin spires. To this day, the image and the stone remain preserved together as a powerful symbol of faith and resilience.
This weekend, the parish will be holding its annual feast, commemorating not only its spiritual heritage but also the extraordinary events that led to the church’s foundation. Visitors are welcome to join the celebrations.
Those unable to attend in person can visit VirtualMalta.com for a free 360-degree virtual tour of the church here:
The tour includes rich historical context, architectural highlights, and close-up views of the shrine, making it an ideal way to experience the story and beauty of this beloved Gżira landmark from anywhere in the world.
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