Up to 60 years ago almost all families had a church model. It became highly popular especially among the inhabitants of Valletta and Cottonera. With these two areas being the worst hit during World War II, many were those who lost their houses, including church models, some of them renowned for their precise scale and accurate resemblance.

After the war, with the advent of television, other hobbies made their way in households with the consequence that church modelling gradually faded out.

In 1986, three church model hobbyists – Raphael Micallef, Paul Piscopo and Tony Terribile – met in Floriana to revive the tradition and thus, a society titled Għaqda Dilettanti Mudelli ta’ Knejjes (Church Modelling Society) was set up. Today, around 400 members form part of the society which operates from its premises in Valletta.

The society organises various activities, including monthly meetings where skilled tradesmen lecture members in specific fields such as guilding, clay designing and ganutell. Throughout the year, the society holds video forums about traditional feasts and heritage and publishes a bi-monthly magazine, Il-Knisja Tiegħi, which serves as a platform for members where they can write about different aspects of religious folklore.

The Għaqda Dilettanti Mudelli ta’ Knejjes also organises an annual exhibition during the first two weeks of Lent. The exhibition, at St Francis Hall, Valletta, is on daily until Saturday, February 27, from 9.30am to 12.30pm and from 4.30 to 7.30pm.

http://għaqda_dilettanti_knejjes.webs.com/