Save The Valletta Skyline Appeal (SVS) reaches out to Malta’s business community for donations to support the restoration of St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral.

Save The Valletta Skyline Appeal (SVS) was set up to consolidate efforts to repair the tower, spire and external and internal stonework of St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral. And, this festive season, they have stepped things up a notch. The organisation is inviting all businesses on the island to assist in preserving the Cathedral that has brought the skyline of Malta’s capital city worldwide renown.

“The spire of St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral on West Street in Valletta is a vital feature of Valletta’s skyline – a universally recognised landmark, especially when approaching the city from the sea. The bell tower and spire rise to over 60 metres high and, while they’ve seen deterioration, they remain an integral part of Malta’s rich cultural heritage,” explains Anthony Guillaumier, Chairman of SVS’ Events Action Team.

“Thanks to people’s resolve to ensure the spire is fixed as well as their generosity, restoration is underway. Through our Christmas Appeal, we are encouraging members of Malta’s business community to get involved because they – perhaps more than anyone else – understand the importance of our capital city’s skyline as an unmissable attraction on the island.”

The Christmas Appeal is a unique opportunity for businesses to integrate the city’s preservation into their company’s corporate social responsibility programme. To participate in the cause, the SVS is suggesting a €100 donation. In addition, a highly reputable supporter of SVS has agreed to match each contribution. What this means is that every business that donates to the appeal will be accredited with a donation that is double the amount given.

SVS is also offering companies the chance to opt in to receive an exclusive SVS Christmas e-card, which will be personalised with the donor’s corporate logo. Businesses will be able to distribute the e-card to their clients to spread merriment and support for SVS this festive season.

“Valletta’s skyline has attracted visitors to Malta for years and years,” says Mr Guillaumier in his concluding remarks, “and we’re thankful for the benefits it brings, not only to our businesses, but also to our cultural identity. Our appeal is to active and faithful members of our country’s business community because together we can save the city we love.”

Save The Valletta Skyline Appeal (SVS) reaches out to Malta’s business community for donations to support the restoration of St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral.

Save The Valletta Skyline Appeal (SVS) was set up to consolidate efforts to repair the tower, spire and external and internal stonework of St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral. And, this festive season, they have stepped things up a notch. The organisation is inviting all businesses on the island to assist in preserving the Cathedral that has brought the skyline of Malta’s capital city worldwide renown.

“The spire of St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral on West Street in Valletta is a vital feature of Valletta’s skyline – a universally recognised landmark, especially when approaching the city from the sea. The bell tower and spire rise to over 60 metres high and, while they’ve seen deterioration, they remain an integral part of Malta’s rich cultural heritage,” explains Anthony Guillaumier, Chairman of SVS’ Events Action Team.

“Thanks to people’s resolve to ensure the spire is fixed as well as their generosity, restoration is underway. Through our Christmas Appeal, we are encouraging members of Malta’s business community to get involved because they – perhaps more than anyone else – understand the importance of our capital city’s skyline as an unmissable attraction on the island.

SVS is also offering companies the chance to opt in to receive an exclusive SVS Christmas e-card, which will be personalised with the donor’s corporate logo. Businesses will be able to distribute the e-card to their clients to spread merriment and support for SVS this festive season.

“Valletta’s skyline has attracted visitors to Malta for years and years,” says Mr Guillaumier in his concluding remarks, “and we’re thankful for the benefits it brings, not only to our businesses, but also to our cultural identity. Our appeal is to active and faithful members of our country’s business community because together we can save the city we love.”

Having remained as co-chairman of Save The Valletta Skyline Appeal for longer than originally planned, Martin Scicluna has recently stepped down from the role. However his efforts and dedication to this critical beacon of Malta’s cultural heritage will live on, says Jo Caruana. 

Martin Scicluna is a man renowned for his appreciation of – and dedication to – Malta’s cultural heritage. Most recently, that dedication has taken the form of his formidable role as co-chairman of Save The Valletta Skyline Appeal, which was set up to safeguard the crumbling tower of the St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral. It is a role he took extremely seriously for over three years; indeed right up until the moment he chose to step down a few weeks ago.

Having remained as co-chairman of Save The Valletta Skyline Appeal for longer than originally planned, Martin Scicluna has recently stepped down from the role. However his efforts and dedication to this critical beacon of Malta’s cultural heritage will live on, says Jo Caruana. 

However, Scicluna’s dedication to preserving our island’s history long predates this particular chapter in his life and his work on the skyline restoration appeal. He was executive president of Din l-Art Ħelwa (the National Trust of Malta) from 2001 to 2005 and vice president from 2005 until 2013. Beyond that, he was a director of HSBC Malta Foundation until 2014; a member of the board of Europa Nostra from 2004 until 2012; and a member of the Board of International National Trusts Organisation from 2003 until 2012.

St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral forms an intrinsic part of Malta’s cultural heritage. The Cathedral is a universally recognised landmark in the World Heritage city of Valletta. Its bell-tower and its spire rising to over 67 metres from the ground, is a historic and iconic element of the Valletta skyline.

We have re-opened our doors to welcome visitors. However, being aware that not everyone feels safe to go out and aware that some potential tourists may not be able to travel to Malta we sought to keep our ‘doors’ open for a virtual tour. This allows visitors to enjoy the beauty of St Paul’s Pro Cathedral from their home.

The tour consists of short ‘walk-through’ video clips covering all the attractions in St Paul’s Pro Cathedral (The Altar, the organ etc).

The virtual tour has been produced in English. Tours in French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese will also be produced.

The Joint Chairmen of the Save Valletta Skyline Restoration Appeal today announced that urgent work is to start on the restoration of the Tower/Spire of St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral.

One of Malta’s most-loved landmarks – the iconic tower of the Grade 1 listed St. Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral in Valletta – and Valletta’s skyline are about to be saved for posterity as a 3 million euro contract between the Anglican Church authorities and a Maltese joint venture company (made up of leading contractors, Vassallo Builders Ltd, Agius Stoneworks Ltd and Vaults Ltd) gets the go-ahead.

Work is also actively now in hand to let the next contracts for this ambitious restoration project which will tackle the external fabric of the remainder of the church, direct accessibility between the church and the Undercroft and the internal tower timber works, to be followed in due course by restoration works to the roof structure and ceiling.