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Saint Cecilia Tower and Chapel
 

The Tower
 

The Tower of Mgarr ix-Xini which was built to safeguard the island was not adequate and a bigger tower was built inland on the hill overlooking the bay. It is strategically situated midway on the road that links Mgarr Harbour to Citadel. The tower is at the very boundary of the village of Ghajnsielem at the corner of the road forking towards the Gozo Heliport.

The tower was raised by Bernardo Macedonia , Knight Commander of the Artillery Corps in 1613. The tower is known as the Saint Cecilia Tower from the name of a medieval chapel in its vicinity. This tower had to safeguard Gozo from  the common attacks of the enemy (especially from the Turks and pirates). Strategically the tower could receive and send signals from the north to the south coast of the island; the Ramla Battery on the north east coast and Mgarr ix-Xini Tower on the the south are both visible from its top. The tower also probably served as a fortified and safe dwelling for the Macedonia family during tier visits to Gozo.

The Chapel
 

Near this tower there is a small church known as 'Saint Cecilia Chapel'. Though partly dilapidated, the chapel is still in its original form, and is the best surviving example of the unaisled chapels that once dotted the countryside. The chapel has withstood the ravages of time and still stands as a witness to the resourcefulness of the inhabitants of Gozo past. The chapel has great historic and architectural value. It forms an integral part of the rich religious and rural heritage of these islands and merits full protection.

It was dedicated to Saint Cecilia, virgin and martyr from the 3rd century and patroness of church music. Her cult became very widespread because of the narrative of her sufferings, entitled 'The Passion of Saint Cecilia'. The chapel is still in its original forma and is the best surviving example of the many unaisled chapels that once dotted the countryside. Like other late medieval chapels it is a plain cube except for its slight pitch of the roof which has an approximately fifteen degree slope. The front, about 9 meters wide is simple but pleasantly proportioned.  Entrance to the chapel is down three steps as its floor is slightly below ground level. It measures seven by seven metres, nearly perfect square. The chapel is divided into four bays by three slightly pointed arches rising from wall piers to carry the shallow pitched stone roof. Each bay provides a recess in the wall. The interior is very dark as light can only enter through the slit above the door and another square window on its opposite. The chapel is a perfect example of medieval simplicity.

Although it is widely believed to have been built around 1540's, the chapel is first recorded in a pastoral visit of 1615 when its only internal ornament was a crucifix. By 1636 it was closed down because it needed extensive repairs. It was temporarily restored and it continued to function until 1644 before it was once again closed down and has been neglected since. The feast of the faithful was celebrated on the 22 November when a mass was said for the faithful.

Imminent danger of collapse

The Wirt Artna foundation is trying to secure its possession, which is now in danger of imminent collapse, so it can use this late mediaeval chapel in Gozo for its headquarters. Cracks are snaking through seven of the roof slabs. Two slabs have already come away. The rain is punching holes into the building, inflicting further damage to a chapel which was vandalised and torched on August 2007.

"We're expecting the roof to collapse soon. All we're asking for is the protection of a national monument. This is such a shame," Wirt Għawdex executive secretary Giovanni Zammit told The Sunday Times on the 25th November 2007.

Ten years ago the land on which the chapel stands - it forms a tiny part of a field - was expropriated by the Government and promised to Wirt Għawdex, which started establishing private sponsorships to finance its restoration. But according to the NGO, the move stalled after a crossfire involving the authorities and an individual who owns the land.

Fencing erected around the building was removed by unknown individuals in 1998 and has since not yet been replaced. The chapel was only temporarily 'supervised' by a watchman. And an ancient waterspout on the roof of the chapel for the overflow of rainfall has also been stolen.

Wirt Għawdex warned that works being carried out near the chapel may be causing further structural damage to the already fragile building. "Even though the chapel was promised to us 10 years ago, it doesn't matter who runs it at this stage - we just need to save the building," Mr Zammit said.

The costs to fix the chapel - located just off the main road connecting Victoria to Mġarr - were originally estimated at Lm10,000 though the figure has risen following the recent acts of vandalism. In a letter to the Gozo Ministry, Mr Zammit said that employees from the Department of Projects and Development said they were threatened when they tried to erect the fence. He insisted that action must be taken to enforce the expropriation.

"The safety of this most important monument should not be left at the mercy of a hard headed individual who believes he can flout the law at will. We appeal to you to take immediate action since we understand that it is solely up to the Gozo Ministry to enforce this expropriation," Mr Zammit wrote. A spokesman for the Gozo ministry was reported as saying that the size of the land to be expropriated was recently reduced. The process involving evaluation of the new area was currently underway and Wirt Għawdex was constantly being kept informed of such procedures.

On the 13th of January 2008, The Sunday Times reported that one of the walls collapsed despite repeated calls on the authorities to take action. Recent heavy rainfall took its toll on the St Cecilia chapel in Għajnsielem and most of its west wall has now given way. Probably, most of the damage was caused after an old waterspout on the roof of the chapel for the overflow of rainfall was stolen. The collapse of the wall had damaged the entire structure and the chapel could be reduced entirely to rubble the next time heavy rain falls. Cracks are snaking through seven of the roof slabs, two of which have already come crashing down.

Finally, 2 months later, on the 1st of March 2008 an agreement between Wirt Għawdex and the Gozo Ministry has been reached to rescue the building. The project will be manned by a project team composed of representatives of the ministry and the society. Once fully-restored, it is planned that the building will be used for exhibitions, lectures and other cultural activities.
 

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