Ghostly Spirits in Churches

Alabama

Adams Grove Presbyterian Church is situated in a rural area, the church has a long history dating back to the 19th century. It was constructed in the Greek Revival style in 1853 and is one of the few pre-Civil War churches remaining in the area.

Built in 1853, and through the years, many paranormal activities have been noted. There has been a man with glowing red eyes seen both in the church and the cemetery, the spirit of a Confederate soldier, a preaching minister, and a crying baby.

The so-called “Red-Eyed Shadow Man” likes to sneak up on visitors. It is thought that he might be a demon or a shadow person.

The spirit of a Confederate soldier in the cemetery likes to yell at visitors, saying, “Go on, git!” so they will go away. He carries a rifle.

The ghostly presence of the minister comes before thunderstorms. He wears a black suit and a gaucho hat. The spirit steps onto the porch, raises his arms, and begins to yell or pray loudly. When thunder is heard and rain starts to fall, he fades away.

The crying baby can be heard during the evening hours.

Louisiana

St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana, was built in 1789. It is the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic cathedral in the US. The cathedral is located in the French Quarter and has a long history if paranormal activity. Among the spirits seen are the ghost of pirate Jean Lafitte and the spirit of a priest named Father Dagobert. Their ghosts are commonly seen haunting the alleyways on either side of the famous cathedral. Pirate Alley is named for legendary pirate Jean Lafitte, as his favorite bar, the Absinthe House, is right around the corner.

There is the spirit of Pere Antoine, a Spanish Capuchin Friar who was laid to rest inside the St. Louis Cathedral 3 days after his death. His ghost is easily recognized, as there is a portrait of him inside the cathedral. He particularly liked to appear during holiday seasons.

Father Dagobert, who became pastor of St. Louis Cathedral in 1745. On quiet evenings, after worship, people have seen the ghost of Dagobert walking the aisles of the Cathedral, his head down to the ground, walking silently in sandals.

Massachusetts

The King’s Chapel and Burying Ground is located in Boston, Massachusetts. Built in 1686, it is one of the oldest churches in Boston. The burying ground dates back to 1630 and is among the oldest cemeteries in the US. The burying ground is the source of paranormal activity where visitors have felt cold spots, heard eerie sounds, and seen figures or shadows.

A very scary apparition is that of a headless African-American woman whose body was desecrated post-mortem because her coffin was too small for her whole body. Therefore, her head was removed, and she roams about seeking vengeance for this act.

New York

The Church of St. Andrew is located in Staten Island, New York, and was founded in 1708. At one time it served as a Revolutionary War hospital. As the years have passed, people have reported seeing apparitions, have heard disembodied voices, and have seen pictures falling from walls. With so much paranormal activity, the church was featured on the series “Ghost Hunters” in the “Little Drummer Boy” episode.

The Old Dutch Church in Sleepy Hollow, New York, was built in the late 17th century. The church is famous for being featured in the short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. The church cemetery is one of the oldest burial grounds in the US. People have reported seeing strange lights and apparitions and hearing unexplained sounds. Some locals believe that the restless spirit of the Headless Horseman still haunts the grounds. Many who step onto the church grounds are struck by a feeling of dread, as if the spirits of those buried here still linger, unable to find peace.

Most Holy Trinity Church in Brooklyn, New York, was built in the late 1800s. It features Gothic Revival architecture and is a designated landmark. The church was built on land that used to be a cemetery. Supposedly not all the bodies were exhumed, and some spirits still roam about here. One of the ghostly apparitions is that of a parish clerk, George Stelz, who was brutally murdered in 1897. His blood and a bloody handprint can be seen on one of the walls in the stairway to the bell tower. Monsignor Michael May died on the premises in 1895 and still haunts his old room where he died.

Pennsylvania

Christ Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was founded in 1695. In the burial ground lie important historical figures, such as Benjamin Franklin. Visitors have reported hearing a woman’s voice and hearing strange bells ringing. The church is a popular site for ghost tours in Philadelphia, attracting those interested in both history and the supernatural.

South Carolina

St. Michael’s Church in Charleston, South Carolina, was built in 1761. It is the location of one of the most popular legends that surround this church— “The Bride of St. Michael’s.” According to legend, the woman Harriet Mackie was poisoned on her wedding day, and now in spirit, she haunts the church in her wedding gown.

Wyoming

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Cheyenne, Wyoming, is the place where a tragic accident occurred. In 1886 two Swedish immigrant masons were hired to build the bell tower. Unfortunately, one of them fell to his death. The other mason feared legal consequences and maybe deportation and hid his dead colleague’s body in the walls of the tower and built around him. Visitors to the church have heard hammering, banging, and strange whispers coming from the tower walls.