Historically known as the Canonica, the Archpriest’s House or Id-Dar tal-Arċipriet, is the official residence of the parish priest of Żebbuġ. The house garden originally stretched from Ġoma Street with the house façade on Church Street and with the side entrance facing Point Street, now named Dun Franġisk Vella Street, after the original owner of the house.
The building’s history is intimately woven with that of the parish, having originally been – as just stated – the family house and garden of Rev. Francesco Vella (1662-1743), the first parish priest of Żebbuġ.
Vella was one of the most prominent 18th century figures in Gozo. This is proved by the fact that his biography was included by the great Gozitan historian Can. G. P. De Soldanis in his manuscript Gozo Antico e Modern, Sacro e Profano (1746). As the Acts of Notary Aloysius Cremona of 3rd August 1739 show, Rev. Vella bequeathed the house to the parish.
The library, presumably contained within the same house was bequeathed to the Archives of the Capuchin Monastery in Floriana. The house was bequeathed on condition that the Feasts of the Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Spirit had to be celebrated on an annual basis.
The successors of Parish Priest Vella resided in the house against a payment of a ground rent. On 28th May 1923, Bishop Giovanni Camilleri granted permission to the parish of Żebbuġ to use a deposit of £100 deposited in the Anglo-Maltese Bank for the building of the first floor of the parish house. As stated in a correspondence by parish priest Rev. Michel Angelo Cauchi to Bishop Michael Gonzi dated 1st January 1928, it seems that the project as completed by 1924. The same letter, an original copy of which is found in the archives of Riħ id-Deheb Historic House, gives detailed information about the extension of the house including the opening of two windows, presumably those located in the ground floor and about the workers who were employed to do the building works and finish the project.
The parish office, which also includes the parish archives, was built during the office of Parish Priest Mgr. Aloysius Vella in 1975. An in-dept research in those archives has been carried out by historian Prof. Horatio C. R. Vella (1952- ), a resident of Żebbuġ. Soon after the establishment of St. Mary Band Society, Archpriest Vella started paving the way to the transfer of the garden area to the same society in order to build its club. This materialized under Archpriest Can. Noel Saliba who was instructed to lease the area by Bishop Mgr. Nicholas Cauchi.
It is presumed that the ground floor of the Parish House goes back to the 17th century. The house’s garage located on Dun Frangisk Vella Street, was originally roofed in the vernacular style with traditional kileb and stone-beams. In 1988 when the parish of Żebbuġ celebrated its 300th anniversary, presuming that this was the oldest part of the house of Parish priest Francesco Vella, a special ceremony to commemorate this anniversary was held in it.
The house still retains its original parapet, decorated with a row of balustrades, a feature that contributes to the elegance of the house.
The house was restored between 2007 and 2008 during the office of Parish Priest Rev. Can. Reuben Micallef. Parish Priest Can. John Sultana continued to embellish the house by transferring several pieces of antique furniture and objets d’art from the church collection to the house.
Research: Mario Cassar
Copyright: Soċjeta’ Banda Santa Marija and Żebbuġ Gozo Local Council
Photo credits: Mario Cassar
Acknowledgements: Historical documents about the house are being reproduced by courtesy of Rih id-Deheb Historical House and Natural Grotto, Żebbuġ.
Special thanks to St. Mary Parish, Żebbuġ for giving permission to publish photos of the Archpriest’s House interior.
