St. Augustine Parish Church, Valletta
About the Organ
Reuben Chircop Photography
The pipe-organ is a rather fine specimen that was built by one of the most renowned Italian pipe-organ firms in 1829. Mascioni is currently the oldest surviving organ building firms in Italy and their signature carries substantial cachet in organ playing circles. This particular instrument was built in 1952.
It’s not the only Mascioni in Malta; most notably, the firm also built the organ in St John’s Co-Cathedral in 1960. What makes the St Augustine’s church specimen remarkable is its particularly beautiful tonal characteristics, apart from the fact that it is a relatively large instrument for Malta’s standards, and features a highly responsive transmission, typical of Mascioni organs.
The organ was fully overhauled in 2010 by Robert Buhagiar
It’s not the only Mascioni in Malta; most notably, the firm also built the organ in St John’s Co-Cathedral in 1960. What makes the St Augustine’s church specimen remarkable is its particularly beautiful tonal characteristics, apart from the fact that it is a relatively large instrument for Malta’s standards, and features a highly responsive transmission, typical of Mascioni organs.
The organ was fully overhauled in 2010 by Robert Buhagiar
history
St Augustine Parish Church is one of the churches built during the creation of the new city of Valletta, Malta. The foundation stone was laid in 1571 according to the plan and guidance of Girolamo Cassar, architect of the Knights of St John. The church was rebuilt in 1765 according to a plan of Giuseppe Bonnici. It was elevated to a parish church in 1968. St Augustine Hall, adjacent to the church, is part of the original plan of Cassar. The present church was consecrated by Giovanni Maria Camilleri on July 1, 1906.
The plan of this church differs from most other parish churches as it is centrally planned in a cruciform layout with a dome over the crossing.
The sacristy consists of a rectangular space with a second attic and vaulted roof. The Priory building is mostly on three floors at Old Bakery Street with another two floors of rented housing and shops beneath the convent onto Old Mint Street. The oratory occupies part of the ground floor beneath the Augustinian Convent.
A number of the artefacts found inside the church are originals from the first church. One of these is an important sixteenth century painting of the Augustinian Nicholas of Tolentino depicted by the famous artist Mattia Preti. This is found in the chapel of the same saint.
In the first chapel to the left, there is a painting of the Augustinian John of Sahagun who was born in Spain in 1430. It is from the school of Preti and some of its figures can be found depicted on the ceiling of St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta. Beneath it there is a small painting of Our Lady of Grace, undated and unsigned, also from the first church.
The church is renowned for the statue of St. Rita. Her feast is celebrated in May with a procession with her statue in the streets of Valletta.
The plan of this church differs from most other parish churches as it is centrally planned in a cruciform layout with a dome over the crossing.
The sacristy consists of a rectangular space with a second attic and vaulted roof. The Priory building is mostly on three floors at Old Bakery Street with another two floors of rented housing and shops beneath the convent onto Old Mint Street. The oratory occupies part of the ground floor beneath the Augustinian Convent.
A number of the artefacts found inside the church are originals from the first church. One of these is an important sixteenth century painting of the Augustinian Nicholas of Tolentino depicted by the famous artist Mattia Preti. This is found in the chapel of the same saint.
In the first chapel to the left, there is a painting of the Augustinian John of Sahagun who was born in Spain in 1430. It is from the school of Preti and some of its figures can be found depicted on the ceiling of St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta. Beneath it there is a small painting of Our Lady of Grace, undated and unsigned, also from the first church.
The church is renowned for the statue of St. Rita. Her feast is celebrated in May with a procession with her statue in the streets of Valletta.
