A medieval legacy
The 1436 Rollo (inventory) of benefices in Malta and Gozo under Bishop Senatore de Mello listed ten existing parishes, namely Naxxar, Birkirkara, Qormi, Gudja, Żebbug, Siġġiewi, Żejtun, Żurrieq, Dingli, and Mellieha (absorbed into Naxxar in 1575, but reinstated in 1842). With the arrival of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem to Malta in 1530, parishes were founded across the archipelago, creating a rich network of local church history.
Attard
Attard became a parish church in 1575. The current church was built in 1613. A belfry was added to the church in 1718 and a sacristy in 1740.
Birgu
Birgu (Vittoriosa) is one of the oldest parishes in Malta. St. Lawrence Church was built between 1681 and 1679, and was consecrated in 1723.
Birkirkara
Birkirkara was founded as a parish church prior to 1436. The church became a Collegiate church in 1630 and a minor basilica in 1950.
Cospicua
Cospicua became a parish in 1586. The current church dedicated to the Immaculate Conception was elevated to collegiate status in 1822.
Għarb
Għarb became a parish on 1679 August 29. The current church was founded in 1699, became the official parish seat in 1729, was consecrated in 1755, and has enjoyed Archipresbyteral rank since 1774 May 19.
Għargħur
Għargħur became a parish on 1610 July 16. The present church was built in 1610 and was consecrated in 1736 April 22.
Għaxaq
A church dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was located in Għaxaq in 1511. Għaxaq officially became a parish in 1626. A new church was built in 1655. The current church was built in 1735 and dedicated on 1784 May 2.
Gudja
Gudja parish chruch was built in 1656. The old parish church of Birmiftuh still exists, but is no in the village of Gudja. The parish, identified then as Birmiftuh, dates back at least to 1436, when it was mentioned as one of ten parishes in Malta.
Imqabba
Imqabba became a parish in 1598 under the the title of the Assumption of Mary in 1598. Saint Basil's Church was temporarily used as parish see. In 1607, a larger church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary was completed and became the see of the parish. The present Church of the Assumption of Mary was completed in 1699 and consecrated 1774 May 20.
Naxxar
Naxxar was founded as a parish church prior to 1436. The present church was built between 1616 and 1630 and was consecrated on 1732 December 11.
Qormi
Qormi was one of ten parishes which existed prior to 1436 and was centered on Saint George Church. A new church was built for the parish in 1456, while the the current church was built in 1584. Several other churches exist in the parish, including the three major sixteenth-century Marian churches of Ta' Qrejca Church, Church of Our Lady of “tal-Hlas” and Church of Our Lady of Victory.
Senglea
Senglea became a parish in 1581. The church was built in 1580 and consecrated in 1743. This original church was destroyed during World War II, but rebuilt and consecrated in 1957. It was made a Collegiate parish since 1786.
Siġġiewi
Siġġiewi was founded as a parish church prior to 1493. The present church of St. Nicholas of Bari was built between 1675 and 1693.
Valletta. Our Lady of Damascus Church
Our Lady of Damascus Church is a Melkite church built at the request of Giovanni Calamia in the sixteenth century to house the icon of Our Lady of Damascus. The Melkite community (Greek-Catholic) came to Malta from Rhodes with the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem when the Knights were expelled from the island in 1522. The church was completed in 1580.
Valletta. Saint George Orthodox Church
Saint George Orthodox Church is a Greek Orthodox Church completed in 1816 by the Greek and Cypriot community of Malta.
Valletta. Saint Mary of Porto Salvo
Also known as Basilica of St Dominic, Saint Mary Church of Porto Salvo is one of three parish churches of Valletta. The original church was built in 1571. A new church was built and consecrated in 1889 to replace the building damaged by an earthquake in 1780.
Valletta. St. Paul's Shipwreck Collegiate Church
The first church was built in 1570. The present church was built between 1639 and 1679 and became a collegiate church in 1733.
Victoria. Cathedral Parish Sacramental Registries
The earliest reference of a parish church within the Cittadella of Gozo dates back to 1299. The church was enlarged, and after the sack of the city in 1551, the church was restored. An earthquake in 1693 demolished the renaissance building, and a new baroque structure was built by Lorenzo Gafà in 1697, opened in 1711, and dedicated in 1716. The church became a cathedral with Gozo's elevation into a diocese in 1864. The cathedral church remains a parish church.
Xagħra
Xagħra became a parish on 28th april 1688. The foundation stone of the present structure was laid on 2 October 1815, was consecrated in May 1878, and was raised to Archipresbyteral status on 11 March 1893.
Xewkija
Xewkija became a parish on 1678 November 27. The currrent church was built between 1952-1978 and has enjoyed Archipresbyteral rank since 1893 February 10.
Żabbar
Żabbar became a parish in 1615. The current church was built between 1641 and 1696. The parish also includes St. Mary’s Church, which served as the parish church during the French Occupation from 1798-1800.
Żebbuġ
Żebbuġ parish was founded before 1436. The currrent church was built in 1632.
Żejtun
Żejtun, formerly known as Bisqallin, is listed as one of the ten parishes existing in Malta in 1436.The present church was built between 1692 and 1728.
Żurrieq
Zurrieq is listed as one of the ten Malta parishes in 1436. The present church was built between 1634 and 1659 and was dedicated in 1731.