Priests and People in Eighteenth-Century Malta:
Centre and Periphery
Frans Ciappara, University of Malta
The purpose of this paper is to explain that though parish priests claimed that
the church was their 'bride' the parishioners were the real proprietors. Having set
up their parish the people demanded to retain influence over it.This concern was
twofold. It was religious since the parishioners funded most of the liturgical
services themselves. But the community was also responsible to adequately
maintain the church fabric. This article also explains that when the priest and
the parishioners disagreed the pastor had to give way.