Bank of Valletta is financing the restoration intervention to be carried out on The Assumption, the historical ex-voto painting believed to date back to the mid 18th century that is found at the Santa Maria Parish Church, known as Il-Knisja l-Qadima, in B’Kara.

The restoration of the precious painting has been entrusted to conservator/ restorer Charlotte Bellizzi, who explains that the painting has suffered extensive damage in the past and since undergoing an old intervention, the widespread tears present in the canvas are opening up again with detriment to the paint layer. The painting also presents several overpainting which together with an aged varnish conceal the true aesthetic appreciation of the painting.

Fr Lino Azzopardi expressed his gratitude to Bank of Valletta for its financial sponsorship. “We are grateful that Bank of Valletta has agreed to sponsor our initiative to restore this invaluable painting and we look forward to seeing this work of art being restored to its original splendour,” he said.

The church of St Mary was built in 1617 and has always been considered as a

building worthy of admiration, although it remained closed for a long number of years.

In 1950 the Collegiate Chapter of Birkirkara decided to restore the church and it was opened again for worship in 1973.

On 8 May 2005, it was declared the parish church for the area situated between Valley Road and Mdina Road in Birkirkara.