Select some images of old wooden churches, and choose a design you wish to recreate in clay. Have the images near your sculpting area so that you can refer to them at any time. Create a box about five inches high out of cardboard. The box should have the approximate dimensions of the sculpture you wish to make. Create the peaked roof and the point for the steeple as well. Use masking tape to hold the cardboard in place. Secure the cardboard on a piece of wood on which you will build the sculpture. Turn the wood to work on all sides of the sculpture
Knead the clay just like bread dough until it has an even consistency. Roll out a large slab of clay about 1/2- to 3/4-inches thick, and drape it over the main roof and sides of the church. Roll out more slabs of appropriate sizes to cover the back and the front of the church, including the steeple. Connect any slabs with a clay-water mix, which acts as glue. Connect all the joints completely using your hands, and use the pottery knife to create straight edges.
Model the clay with your hands to refine the exact shape of the building. Create the overhang of the roof by adding more clay as necessary. Use the scraper to create straight wall and roof lines.
Finish modeling the shape of the steeple and the rounded peak on which the cross is mounted. Use the knife to carefully outline the windows and doors of the church, as well as any decorative wood-work on the exterior.
Press into the clay using the handle of your knife or needle tool to where the windows are. Create an even depression in those areas to create the look of glass. Mark the detail of the glass windows and any wooden slats or panes. Detail the window frames and sills, as well as the front doors of the church in the front under the clock tower.
Let the sculpture dry a little, and continue detailing the texture of the wooden shingles and boards using a small ruler to make the indentations. Practice the texture on a separate piece of clay until it looks realistic. Wipe the area with a wet sponge to give a uniform look and to tone down any sharp edges.
Form and add a small cross on the peak as a final touch, and clean off any finger marks from the sculpture with the wet sponge. Let the sculpture harden over several days, and remove it from the cardboard. Use acrylic paint, and then use a sealer to protect the sculpture from moisture.