Ghosts

When we think of haunted places most of us think of castles. Well I know that I do anyway and when I think of these haunted castles I think of England. Yep, that is where I picture the most haunted places. To me they are in England and they are those old drafty castles and ruins of castles that you see in all those photos. There are some other places that are popular also when we think of haunted places and those are abandoned asylums, prisons and lighthouses. Ships are also high up there on our list of haunted places. As a matter of fact, besides a castle, what could be more fascinating than a haunted ship?

The one place that most of us never even think about when we talk of haunting is a church, yet there are many stories of haunted churches and ruins of churches, monasteries and the like. I think you could say that a church would be the last place many of us would think of when we are talking about haunting. None of what I am about to say, or have said, should be taken as an indication that I personally believe in ghosts. I do like to keep an open mind on every subject however and therefore I am willing to write on anything that I deem is interesting to me. This is such a subject.

There is a church in England named St. Neol's Church. It is located in Poundstock. Many people in the area claim to have seen a ghost roaming this church in the middle of the night. How is it that the church was said to become haunted? The story dates back to 1356 and was told by the Bishop of Exeter at that time. The Bishop told a story about a band of armed men who broke into the church while mass was being held and as soon as it ended, went into the back and killed the church clerk, William Penfound and spread his blood all over the vestments and left. It was never found out who the men were or who sent them, if anyone, to do their dirty deed. The ghost of the clerk has been seen many times in the church and walking through the church graveyard. He has also been seen at the Penfound family home which is still occupied by the Penfounds to this day. Some say that the ghost is merely making the rounds as he did in life.

One very famous haunted church in England is the Canterbury Cathedral. One of the reasons it is so famous is because Thomas Becket, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury was murdered by King Henry II. Not only was he murdered but he was murdered on the altar of this church. Sounds like we are going to talk about the ghost of Thomas Becket, doesn't it? Nope, we are going to talk about Archbishop Simon Sudbury who is said to walk throughout this cathedral. He was killed by Wat Tyler in 1381. Tyler was the head of a revolt. Sudbury's head was cut off and his head and body were buried in two different places. This would lead us to think that his ghost would have no head or it would come off. This is not the case. The ghost has a head and has been seen by many people. Sudbury is not alone in haunting this church, he has a couple of ghosts for company. There is the ghost of a monk who walks slows by with a very thoughtful expression and the ghost of Neil Cook, a former servant of a canon. Neil was a female who poisoned her master and his lover when she found that he was having an affair. The punishment for this crime was that she was buried alive below a passage way in the cathedral. There is a legend that if you see this ghost, you don't have long to live.

What could make a better ghost story than the one above. It's got some great ingredients, live burial, a sort of curse and a dual murder. Wow this is the stuff that a haunting is made of.

There is a church in Tennessee named the Bethbirei Church that is said to be haunted. People have reported that the church, which dates back to 1810, is a center for paranormal activity. Ghosts have been seen in the graveyard, which is located across the street and in and around the church building itself. Apparently people have see figures in the church along with strange lights that are visible through the windows and this is at a time when the church is empty. Even motorists have reported this. Now here is the kicker, not only ghosts are being seen but also some type of beasts that are standing on two legs. Are there demons that roam around the church?

The Borley Church in Essex, England is an interesting place. Many strange phenomena have been reported in this building. It is said that visitors have heard footsteps but when they looked around nothing was there. Besides the footsteps there are also crashing and tapping sounds and sometimes ringing bells. Objects have been seen floating through the air along with doors opening and closing when no one was there. Then there is the organ music. People have reported that the organ began to play while they were in the church. The problem is that there is no one playing it, it is playing itself. Ghosts have been seen walking through the church. There is a ghost of an unknown nun who wanders through the building along with other figures that are hard to make out. There is also the coldness in certain spots in the church even on the hottest days. This church has a well deserved reputation for being haunted.

One of the reasons I like the subject of haunted churches is that in movies you will see people running into churches to get away form spirits and ghosts and here we have just the opposite. Many people believe in ghosts and who can truly say that they have proof that they do or don't exist. One thing is for sure, it makes a good story.

Last, but not least, are the ghosts of Old Saint Patrick's Cathedral. The address of this church is 263 Mulberry St. It is the oldest church in New York City. It is said that two different ghosts roam the building. One is Pierre Toussaint, a freed slave. He is said to be walking around the cemetery and building. Then there is Bishop Dubois. He was buried below the entrance to the building and it is said that he is frequently seen inside the church. The church was built in 1809.