Centuries-old angels discovered beneath layers of paint at a Boston church made famous by Paul Revere.

Mural conservators are working to find 20 angels hidden beneath layers of paint for more than a century in a Boston church made famous by Paul Revere.

Gianfranco Pocobene worked on the scaffolding at the Old North Church to discover eight of the 20 hidden angels.

Painted angels with child-like faces and wings were once one of the distinctive features of Old North Church, the oldest church building in Boston. When painted around 1730, the angels in 1912 were covered in thick white robes as part of the A renovation that restorers are looking to reverse.

“When we first looked at this project six months ago, We don’t know what’s here,” Pokobean said as the church prepared to reveal eight of the 20 angels.

Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel wishes Christmas to Christians around the world.

Conservationist Corrine Long from Dover. New Hampshire A nearly 300-year-old angel statue on the wall of Old North Church is being restored Wednesday, Dec. 1, Sept. 18, 2024, in Boston. (AP)

“It was really a revelation. to have found these interesting and historic works of art on the walls of churches that no one has ever seen before in our lifetimes,” he continued. Things from colonial America are really special.”

Old North Church is best known for the two lanterns that hung from the steeple the night Paul Revere rode in April 1775 to warn of the approaching British army. Revere was also a church bellman as a teenager.

“For most of the history of the church The people who came here to the church must have seen those angels. You will see the colorful interior,” said Emily Spence, deputy director of education for Old North Illuminated. Old North Illuminated operates the church as a historic site.

“The color scheme is an important part of the identity of the people who worship here as members of the Church of England,” she said.

A nearly 300 year old painted angel appears on the wall of Old North Church on Wednesday, Dec. 2, Sept. 18, 2024, in Boston. (AP)

Spence said efforts began in September to restore the sandstone and teal angels, with eight completed this month and another eight expected to be completed by spring.

Researchers know from historical records that angels still remain on the wall. And they still have a copy of the contract signed with John Gibbs, the meeting member who drew the pictures. A study of the paint conducted in 2017 confirmed it was still on the wall.

Corrine Long, a painting conservator working with Pocobene, said one of the challenges in restoring the angel was removing seven layers of paint without damaging the angel. First, conservators use a solvent gel to soften the paint layer before removing it manually with a plastic scraper. Then they cleaned the angel with a cotton swab. and retouch to remove any traces of damage.

“They all have their own unique style — they are not imitations,” Pocobene said. “Artist John Gibbs painted each image separately and in a different pose. This gives them a really cool rhythmic pattern. on the surface of the church.”

A mini Bible was displayed just in time for guests to read the Christmas story.

A recently restored image of a nearly 300-year-old angel adorns the arch at historic Old North Church in the North End, upper right, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP)

Long said one of the most satisfying parts of the project is returning some of the church’s grounds to the way the founders intended.

“Whenever I enter a historic building, I would be amazed to be surrounded by paintings or decorations that were originally there,” she says. “When they were repainted white. It will lose some of its grandeur and history.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

One day recently, the church was mostly empty. Except for conservationists But two tourists, Sean Dixon and Sarah Jardine from California, also went there. He walked along the walkway and noticed some scaffolding that slightly obscured the view.

“I was shocked when I first saw it,” Dixon said. “It looked really cool. And I’m really excited to see the full picture when the scaffolding comes down.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.