Every year, a service of remembrance is held on All Souls' Day in the beautiful and unique high gothic chapel in the centre of Ta' Braxia Cemetery. The chapel was commissioned by Lord Stanmore in memory of his wife, Rachel, who died in 1887 and who is buried behind the altar. The building, which was consecrated in 1893, was designed by the London architect John Loughborough Pearson.

Ta' Braxia cemetery was designed by Luigi Emanuele Galizia in 1856, the Works Department's 25-year-old architect, and was his first commission. He subsequently designed many fine buildings in Malta, including the Chapel at Addolorata Cemetery and the Turkish Cemetery in Marsa. He also designed a very fine fountain for Ta' Braxia, but this requires extensive restoration. The cemetery was progressively enlarged over the years, and houses 5,000 burials. A few burials still take place, such as in family vaults in the lower sections of the cemetery. Originally, ownership of graves was by Right of Sepulture, a formula whereby the dead are left undisturbed - until the Day of Judgment. An exception to this was Charles MacIver, founder of the Cunard Line, who regularly holidayed in Sliema Palace, who was reinterred in Liverpool. Grave owners can now obtain full deeds of ownership.

The area of Ta' Braxia was originally much larger, comprising open ground in front of the Floriana Bastions to allow a free field of fire and to deny shelter to any approaching force. The meaning of the word 'Braxia' or 'Bracia' is the subject of debate but it seems to us to convey the same sense as the old English word 'brake' in this context which means, appropriately, 'open ground'. Ta' Braxia was not the first cemetery in the area, as in 1831 Sir Moses Montefiore, a Jewish financier, prevailed upon the government to grant a strip of land to the Jewish community for a cemetery, and this adjoins the main cemetery. At one time the main cemetery was also adjoined by a football ground, but this has long gone.

Ta' Braxia itself was commissioned at the time of the Crimean War, in 1856, as the existing burial grounds and cemeteries available for non-Catholics, in particular the Msida Bastion, had reached full capacity. The new cemetery was to be available for all faiths and was to be managed by a statutory body, the 'Ta' Braxia Committee', which was funded by a yearly vote. A house was built for a resident caretaker. Ownership of the ground was passed to the Maltese government between the wars - 'The Harper Award' - and from then on Catholics sought graves; in fact, a wide range of Christian denominations and other religions are represented.

Between 1987 and 1999 Din l-Art Helwa, the National Trust NGO, carried out a successful and painstaking restoration of the Msida Bastion Cemetery which, as is the case with Ta' Braxia, contains the graves of people of importance in both Maltese and overseas history. The conclusion was celebrated the following year at a ceremony attended by Fiona Reynolds, then Director of the English National Trust, and Prince Hendrik of Denmark, President of Europa Nostra, the European National Trust which awarded the project the coveted silver medal. The Msida Bastion was given in guardianship to Din l-Art Helwa, which keeps it in show condition. It is open to the public on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning and on the first Sunday of every month.

It was logical to follow this project with the restoration of Ta' Braxia, which had suffered three World War Two bombs and was considerably run down. Din l-Art Helwa agreed a joint project of work with the Health Department, as represented by the Ta' Braxia Committee, which was still functioning under the Chairmanship of Dr Vassallo, then Chief Government Medical Officer, and including Dr Ray Busuttil, Director of Health, and John Attard Kingswell and his staff.

Matters started well enough, but soon after the Health Department was reorganised, Dr Vassallo retired and was not replaced as such, and Dr. Busuttil was given wider responsibilities. The Committee no longer sat and the Ta' Braxia 'vote' was reduced. A project which was in hand to repair the chapel was dropped and the position of caretaker, made vacant by the death of John Mizzi, was not continued as the government was unable to recover possession of the house.

Din l-Art Helwa founded the Friends of Ta' Braxia to provide continuity of care and to supervise the restoration project, raise funds and act as an additional focal point for relatives. The Friends subscribe a yearly sum and give donations, and through these resources and other help, the majority of the war damage has been rectified, tombs have been re-laid and a considerable amount of repair work to the monuments has been achieved, though more remains to be done.

Over the years, the Friends have built toilets, a workshop and established an office, laid on water and electricity, replaced broken cathedral glass windows in the chapel, repaired walls, gates and stonework, researched much information, recorded the inscriptions and produced visitors' guides.

The adjacent Jewish cemetery was dug out, researched and restored. The Friends deal with many enquiries from descendants of those interred in the cemetery, locating the relevant grave and taking people to visit, often arranging for headstone refurbishment or other work. Sometimes this is an easy matter, as we have many records, but sometimes widespread war damage means a search of almost forensic standards. We have several regular events, such as the visits by the Russian Ambassador and his staff on Russia's National Day and its Army and Navy Days, which centre on the grave of General de Breze, diplomatic advisor to the last Tsar, and the tombs of the Princesses Poutiatine. Then there are the services for All Souls and other occasions, and The Friends general meetings .

The cemetery is one of Malta's historic sites, a visitor attraction in itself, even if one disregards the respect due to the dead - many of whom have played important roles in Malta's development. Were it brought up to a decent condition, it could be one of our major attractions. This article is written in the hope that it may attract more national attention and also in the hope that more individuals and organisations will come and give a hand.

We are always very ready to talk to anyone interested and show people around. ([email protected]; [email protected]). This is not to say that we have not had generous help in the past. We should mention, with grateful thanks, the many organisations that have given assistance, including HSBC, the Ramblers, the Russian community, the Royal Marines and, in recent weeks, the Braxia and Addolorata Army (BADA). Many individuals have helped, and mention must be made in particular of Alan Keighley who wrote and researched the visitors' guides.

The Health Department has helped where it can, although constrained by budgetary and other difficulties. Security staff now regularly ensure that the cemetery is open to the public throughout the week and carry out other duties. However, mention must be made of their employee Karmenu Baldacchino, alas now long-retired, but while he was with us he was a tower of strength.

The cemetery covers a wide area and contains not only many beautiful and important monuments but also interesting flora and fauna. There are cedars, pines, palms, olives, almonds, pomegranates, Judas trees and many shrubs, including pittosporum, bougainvillea and lantana. We have lizards and skinks - and until recently a swarm of bees. However, the gardening of such a big site has always presented problems. The Friends are deputed to look after the older sections, which cover two-thirds of the site, and paid for out of the Vote, and the security staff are deputed to handle the more modern area. 

Sadly, this does not work, as the security staff cannot do this work on a regular basis, and the subvention from the vote is inadequate and generally much delayed. The result is that the cemetery appears unkempt to visitors - particularly after a rainy period. We can only regret this and say that we are endeavouring to improve the situation. A large tree was blown down in the storms last winter and blocks one of the pathways, fortunately not affecting any of the monuments, but another is about to go, which will damage several tombs.  

We are told that its removal is awaiting Mepa approval. Likewise, the lightning conductor of the chapel is hanging free, the result of a botched theft last December, and one hesitates to imagine what damage might be done if lightning were to strike the dome. The chapel itself is in urgent need of repairs, as the timbers in the lower roof are decaying, rendering the lower tiles unsafe. Work to the stonework is also urgently needed.

The reader can understand that the Friends have their hands full and are struggling, but struggling with a very beautiful and rewarding project that will be of great value to Malta. There are things that can be done and the Friends will endeavour to do them. Of course, they always welcome volunteers and donations. 

The authors are, respectively, the President and Executive Director of The Friends of Ta' Braxia

Din l-Art Helwa - Friends of Ta' Braxia

Rev. Canon Simon Godfrey will conduct an All Souls Service at Ta' Braxia Cemetery Memorial Chapel, Pieta, on Monday, 2 November at 11am. All are welcome to attend.