We’re now almost five months into the three-year Appeal which culminates in November 2019, the 175th Anniversary of St.Paul’s. Donations to date stand at €350,000. Further pledges of several hundred thousand euros have been made for 2018 and 2019. Preliminary restoration work on the structure will start towards the end of this year providing visible evidence of contributions being put to good use.

Especially gratifying has been the ecumenical support typified by the pledge by the Bishop of Gozo of a Sunday congregation collection. Parishioners across Gozo responded generously by giving €5783. In receiving the cheque, Canon Simon Godfrey, the Chancellor of the cathedral, said: “It is deeply symbolic of the warm ecumenical ties that exist between the Roman Catholic and Anglican faiths in Malta and Gozo. The parishioners of Gozo have demonstrated their typically great generosity for which I and the Restoration Appeal committee are enormously grateful”.  Sir Martin Laing and Martin Scicluna, the Joint Chairmen of the Restoration Appeal, said that the contribution by the Diocese of Gozo in aid of the Appeal shows how important this outstanding Grade 1 building is to the cultural heritage not just of Valletta but of all Malta and Gozo.