Shrine Of Our Lady Of Europe

In April 711 the moors captured Gibraltar and between the years 742 and 1300 they build the Moorish Castle and at the southernmost tip of the rock, close to the sea, they build a mosque. They lived here until 1309, when they were expelled from Europe.
There is historical evidence to corroborate the belief that the mosque was built before 1309. It is known that already at that early date, during a brief Spanish occupation (1309-1333) the mosque was used as a Christian Shrine.

During 1333 Gibraltar was again occupied by the Moors and they remained until they were finally expelled in 1462 by the Spaniards. The mosque was soon was converted into a Christian Shrine in honour of Our Lady as Patroness of Europe.
A large chapel was built at right angles to the mosque's east wall and the whole area became known as the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe. A statue of the Virgin and Child was installed in the shrine, only two feet high, carved in wood and polychromed in royal blues, reds and gold.

The shrine prospered in fame and popularity for well over two centuries. Ships passing through the Strait saluted Our Lady as they passed Europa Point and mariners often came ashore with gifts to the shrine.

Gibraltar suffered many raids by Turkish pirates during these years. The Turkish pirate Hali Hamat, sacked the shrine and robbed it of all its valuables, but was intercepted by the Spanish fleet near Cartagena. This incident led to the hermit who lived at the shrine to write to the king of Spain, asking him to protect the shrine, the king did nothing but his son, Philip II, had high walls erected around it. The shrine was used as a refuge whenever there was trouble in the town.

On August 4th 1704 Gibraltar was captured by the British. The shrine was stripped of all its valuables by the marines. The statue of the Virgin and Child was mutilated and thrown to the sea, being made of wood it floated out to sea, where it was found by a fisherman who took it to the priest in charge of the Cathedral, from there it was taken to Algeciras for safekeeping.

The shrine itself ceased to be a place of worship. During the Great Siege of 1779-1783 the shrine was badly damaged and consequently the Spanish extension was demolished. The people of Gibraltar always sought the return of the statue, so a replica was made. Meanwhile the original statue of Our Lady remained in Algeciras until 1864, when Bishop Scandella with the help of Pope Pius IX, received permission to recover the image. A copy of the statue was left in Algeciras.

During the first vatican council the Pope offered to help build a temporary chapel, which was completed in 1866. The Pope donated the marble for the altar. During the second world war the image was transferred to the Cathedral for safekeeping.

Meanwhile the shrine had been used as an army storehouse for oil and packing cases. After 1910 it became an army guardroom. The whipping post outside the shrine dates from this period. There are records that in 1928 it was used as a library for the garrison stationed in Gibraltar, and during the second world war was again used as a store.

In 1954 the image was moved from the Cathedral to St.Joseph's Church, the nearest parish church to the shrine.

Then in 1959 the military had no use for the building and decided to demolish it, however it was declared an ancient monument and so preserved. From then on the Church authorities worked to promote devotion to Our Lady of Europe and so prepare the way for installing the statue again at the shrine. The restoration began in 1962, on September 28th of the same year Bishop Healy celebrated the first Mass at the shrine after 258 years.

On October 7th 1968 Bishop Healy was able to restore the statue of Our Lady to the shrine.

In 1973 the renovation of the shrine started, an extension was made to the chapel, a new altar and a pedestal for the image were made from the original marble donated by the Pope. When the existing canopy entrance between the two large buttresses was being constructed it was discovered another doorway had been there, it was the original entrance to the shrine at the foot of the tower.

The shrine was consecrated by Bishop Rapallo on 5th October 1980.