I am 67 years old, born and raised in Valletta. I have fond memories of St John’s Co-Cathedral which I used to visit with my father. Then, a farthing was all you needed for a chair and standing was free.

I have visited St Peter’s in Rome, St Patrick in New York, Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, to mention a few and NEVER paid a cent to enter.

Unfortunately, on 15 July at 11am I tried to take a trip down memory lane and entered St John’s church. I was stopped by someone inside the church without a uniform or identity disc and asked: “What do you want?”

I was so surprised I asked to see the sacristy, which I was allowed to do. How empty it is. I remember it full of antique paintings among other things.

When I tried to visit the “sagrament” I was told by this man to either “pay or leave”. I told him it was my church too and it was a pity it had become a money making concern. His reaction was to start shouting at me as he followed me from inside the church to outside the main door.

How better were the days when one went to his place of worship and all he had to do was to pay a farthing for the chair, more if he wanted to.

St John’s today is only for those who pay the Lm2 entrance fee.

I can swear on my honour I did not see any Maltese. Is this right?

Joseph Vella

Zebbug