The medieval chapel dedicated to Saint Matthew stands on a road leading to Wied Iż-Żurrieq, south of the village of Qrendi. Shaped in the form of a crypt, it is said that it survived the tremor that in 1343 created the 130-foot deep depression known as Il-Maqluba and left it perched perilously close to the edge. If this is the case, then this tiny chapel is one of the oldest Christian shrines in Malta.
The Inquisitor, Mgr Duzzina, recorded the first mention of this crypt in the report of his pastoral visit to the Maltese Diocese between 1574 and 1575. In his report, Mgr Duzzina describes the crypt as void of all ornaments and decorations but well provided with the necessities for celebrating Holy services. As it had no rector, the chapel’s care was entrusted to Nina Zammit, a widow from Mqabba, who in turn for a plot of land was to provide for the celebration of Mass and the singing of vespers on Saint Matthew’s feast day.
In 1664, a Dutch traveller named Willem Shellinks happened to visit Qrendi on 21st September, the feast of St Matthew. He was an artist and he made two designs, which proves that the feast was celebrated at that time. These designs were published in a book by a group of Dutch researchers under the leadership of Bernard Aikem.
In 1680, Bishop Giacomo Molina visited the Parish of Qrendi and all the chapels around the village. One of these was St Matthew’s Chapel. At that time the feast was celebrated with a Mass and food was distributed to the inhabitants. In his report, the Bishop mentions Natal and Giovanni Maria Caruana who had left the portion of land known as the Maqluba Garden on which this chapel could be built.
In fact, Parish Priest Dumink Farrugia inaugurated the chapel on 19 September 1613. The old chapel served as the sacristy to the newly built chapel. The bishop mentions the main painting, which he attributes to Mattia Preti, and which was donated by a French Knight of the Order of St John.
On 12 April 1942 the Chapel was hit during a Nazi air attack. At that time the British Forces used the chapel as a shelter and some soldiers were wounded. After the end of the war, the people of Qrendi gave thanks by rebuilding the chapel. Under the guidance of the architect S. Privitera, the central cross on the top of the chapel’s facade was replaced with a similar smaller version that was flanked by the construction of two belfry towers. The decorative window on the facade was also enlarged and its height lowered considerable allowing the chapel to benefit from better lighting. The decorative masonry above the main door was also replaced. Both entrances at the sides of the chapel have evidence of later interventions as the rectagonal doorways are strengthened by arched construction.
A staircase, consisting of stair corbels protruding from the chapel’s western side, presumably to enable one to climb on its roof, has also been removed. Adjacent to the eastern side entrance, one also finds what is believed to be the doorway of a planned entrance to an underground crypt that might have served for funereal purposes. The date of this intervention seems, according to photographic evidence, to have occurred after 1934. Another interesting feature is the niche located at the outside rear end of the chapel whose purpose is unknown.
The feast of Saint Matthew is celebrated each year on the third Sunday of September and the chapel itself is venue for many weddings and spiritual retreats. This year the feast is being celebrated on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 September. There will be stalls with traditional Maltese food and singers and dancers will entertain on a stage while a traditional bingo will be organised by the St Mary’s Band Club. A fireworks display will bring an end to this year’s Maqlubafest.