Late Baroque reliefs two parishioners discovered by accident while carrying out maintenance work in the Senglea Church are being restored by the Rehabilitation Projects Office.

The reliefs were exposed when volunteers were sanding down one of the church’s main pillars in January, and since then, a team of experts has confirmed that there are similar carvings on four other columns.

It is believed that the reliefs, which include floral decorations, angels and a yet unidentified coat of arms, were covered with plaster by people supporting a 19th century anti-Baroque movement, known as Nazarenes and Purists, Parish Priest Robin Camilleri told the media this afternoon.

It is not yet known how long the restoration will take, as only a small part has been uncovered. The restoration process, which will kick off on June 1, could also uncover traces of the original paint decorating the relief, Mireille Fsadni, chief architect the Rehabilitation Projects Office, said.

The reliefs are on five pillars that withstood the 38 direct hits aimed at the church during the Second World War. Only 20 per cent of the building had survived the war.