Kirkop’s church dedicated to St. Leonard was constructed during the early years of the sixteenth century and became the official parish church in 1592. Later on, throughout the eighteenth century, the church went through a process of enlargement to keep up with the growing population of Ħal Kirkop. Other changes were also made in the subsequent century. These include the addition of two bell towers as well as an interior refurbishment in 1878 by Reverend J. Barbara. Most of the ship graffiti date to the Knights’ Period (1530 – 1798).