<P> The church is a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts . It is the oldest standing church building in Boston and is a National Historic Landmark . Inside the church is a bust of George Washington, which Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, reportedly remarked was the best likeness of the first president he had ever seen . </P> <P> The Old North Church was built in December 1723, inspired by the works of Christopher Wren, the British architect who was responsible for rebuilding London after the Great Fire . Timothy Cutler was the founding rector after serving as third rector of Yale College from 1719 to 1722 . </P> <P> In April 1775, Paul Revere told three Boston patriots to hang two lanterns in the steeple . These men were the church sexton Robert Newman and Captain John Pulling--the two of whom historian David Hackett Fischer suggests each carried one lantern up to the steeple--as well as Thomas Bernard, who stood watch for British troops outside the church . The lanterns were displayed to send a warning to Charlestown patriots across the Charles River about the movements of the British Army . Revere and William Dawes would later deliver the same message to Lexington themselves, but this lantern method was a fast way to inform the back - up riders in Charlestown about the movements of the British; these back - up riders planned to deliver the warning message to Lexington and Concord in case Revere and Dawes were arrested on the way . </P> <P> The lanterns were hung for just under a minute to avoid catching the eyes of the British troops occupying Boston, but this was long enough for the message to be received in Charlestown . The militia waiting across the river had been told to look for the signal lanterns, and were prepared to act as soon as they saw them . </P>

Who put the lanterns at old north church