Last week I visited the exhibition organised by the Għaqda Dilettanti Mudelli ta’ Knejjes, a society of church model enthusiasts which promotes the appreciation of our religious traditions particularly those associated with church models.

The exhibition was varied and one could appreciate different statuettes, most of which were manufactured locally either carved in wood or moulded in clay or terracotta. The centrepiece looked impressive and showed a model altar dedicated to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary with the statues of Our Lady and St Dominic.

It was extremely interesting to see a model of a traditional Maltese funeral during the plague of 1813 and a model of the original Fgura church demolished in 1955.

Some of the club’s members are interested in other branches of religious folklore such as collections of holy pictures and of the traditional labtijiet, (holy pictures surrounded by a cloth frame decorated with flowers and embroidery).

I encourage readers to visit this exhibition in Melita Street, Valletta which runs until Saturday and opens daily from 9.30am  to 12.30pm and from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.