Vittoriosa seems to have been the second oldest parish in Malta after the Mdina Cathedral. According to some historians, though rejected by others, at around 1090 Pope Urban II (1088-99) divided Malta into two Parishes; Mdina and Borgo. Therefore, the Chapel of the Nativity within the Castrum Maris was raised to the status of Parish Church.

Later, a small church dedicated to St Lawrence and enjoying Parish status was presumably built during the Aragonese domination (1283-1410) and it was surrounded by a cluster of other churches. However it is believed that it was the Castillians (1410-1530) who eventually introduced the cult of St Lawrence to the Maltese Islands. This coincides with the fact that the earliest existing document referring to the St Lawrence Church by the sea dates back to 1436. This Church was later rebuilt in the Siculo Roman style in 1508 and ranked in dignity next to the Mdina Cathedral.

On its arrival to the Islands in 1530, the Order took over the Church of St Lawrence for its own exclusive use as Conventual Church for 20 scudi a year. This they held until 1571 – despite the fact that on Easter Monday on the 1st April 1532, the Church of St Lawrence was gutted by fire caused by the Paschal Candle.

Meanwhile the Annunciation Church served as Parish for the Maltese, thus enabling Parish Priest Don Filippo de Guevera to carry out his parish priest duties. It was only in 1575 after the arrival of the Apostolic Delegate and Inquisitor Mgr Pietro Dusina that the Birgu Parish Priest returned to St Lawrence, where the Apostolic Delegates held, or participated in, the frequent religious ceremonies. The present church was built between 1681 and 1696 by Lorenzo Gafá and includes a bell-tower at the back. The front bell-towers were built towards the end of the 18th and 19th Centuries respectively. Following an issue that lasted nearly two centuries under three sovereigns, the Parish of St Lawrence was eventually raised to the dignity of Collegiate in 1821.

The Church is embellished with several artistic works including the titular painting which is the largest canvas by Mattia Preti in Malta. The walnut pulpit and organ loft were all produced by the voluntary work of skilled Vittoriosa craftsmen.

Detail	Altar Boy in church	Parish Church	Church Museum
Dome and Western Tower	Silver Sanctuary Lamp
	The Assumption of the Virgin	The Immaculate Conception	The Baptism of Christ
		Vinrgin and Child and Saint Anthony of Padua and Cajetan	The Marriage festa of Carla
		The Dead Christ
Platform for the Statue of St. Lawrence	Silver pedestal of the Statue of St. Lawrence