Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Church - St Paul’s Bay, Malta - Bell Tower Above the Mediterranean

The bell tower of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Church rising above the rooftops of St Paul’s Bay, with the blue Mediterranean Sea forming the backdrop.

This photograph shows the bell tower and upper section of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Church in St Paul’s Bay, Malta, rising above the surrounding rooftops with the Mediterranean Sea stretching across the background. The square limestone bell tower, with its paired arched openings and balustraded upper level, dominates the view, while the cross and pediment of the church can be seen alongside it. The coastal setting reflects the close relationship between the parish and the historic seaside community of St Paul’s Bay. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the growing number of residents meant that the older Sanctuary of St Paul tal-Ħġejjeġ could no longer adequately serve the community. Countess Anna Bugeja financed a new church dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows in commemoration of the Holy Year of 1900 and presented it to the Conventual Franciscans. The church became the parish church of St Paul’s Bay in 1905. As the population continued to grow, the building was substantially enlarged between 1968 and 1979, creating the parish church seen today.