Indeed, Sliema got its name from a 16th-century chapel that stood on the Tigné promontory dedicated to The Virgin Mary, which served as a beacon and a reference point to the few fishermen who lived in that area.

A week later the first titular feast was celebrated both inside the church and externally, marking the birth of the Sliema community.

The church was embellished with various works of art throughout the years, most notably the apse painting by Giuseppe Calì and the Titular statue of Our Lady Stella Maris that was brought to Sliema from Paris in 1891.

This statue is carried annually in procession throughout the streets of Sliema on the 3rd Sunday of August when the Titular Feast is celebrated with great pomp.

The church suffered severe damages during World War II on 2 March 1942 during a German air raid.