St Lucy's Church, Gozo
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| Church of St Lucy | |
|---|---|
Knisja ta' Santa Luċija | |
 | |
  Church of St Lucy Location within Malta | |
| 36°02′33.8″N 14°13′00.6″E / 36.042722°N 14.216833°E | |
| Location | Santa Luċija, Gozo |
| Country | Malta |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Dedication | Saint Lucy |
| Consecrated | November 9, 1952 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Baroque |
| Specifications | |
| Number of domes | 1 |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Bells | 4 (1948) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Gozo |
| Parish | Kerċem |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop | Mario Grech |
| Rector | Paul Cardona |
The Church of St Lucy is a rural small church located in a hamlet of Santa Luċija, Gozo, which hamlet was named after this church.
This small church replaced a much smaller church which already existed by 1544. In 1544 the original chapel was deconsecrated. It was mentioned again in inquisitor Pietro Dusina's report when he visited the church in 1575 where he described the church as being in a devastating state since it has no rector, no doors and neither an altar. Dusina ordered the deconstruction of the church and that a cross should be built instead of it. However the local farmer decided to restore the chapel instead. It was finished by 1598. On his visit to the chapel in 1608, the Bishop of Malta Tomaso Gargallo recounts that he found a painting behind the altar and that the church was in use. However, by 1657 the chapel was deconsecrated for the third time.[1]
Present church
The chapel was rebuilt by a local priest Reverend Mikelang Dandalone by the end of the 18th century. The church gained quite an importance between 1848 and 1851, when it was made a vice-parish church as the main parish church of St Gregory in Kerċem was still under construction. The church was expanded between 1951 and 1952. The church was consecrated once more by Bishop Giuseppe Pace on November 9, 1952.[2]