Angelic figures? Grate I observed in church with them (8)
I believe the answer is:
cherubim
'angelic figures?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'grate i observed in church with them' is the wordplay.
'grate i' becomes 'rubi' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'observed in' is an insertion indicator.
'church' becomes 'ch' (common abbreviation).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'them' becomes 'em'.
'ch'+'em'='chem'
'rubi' going inside 'chem' is 'CHERUBIM'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cherubim that I've seen before include "Angelic beings found with seraphim" , "Angels, usually portrayed as winged children" , "Angelic Children, often winged" , "Angel" , "Angels depicted as winged children" .)