IS THIS THE END FOR GHOST HUNTERS? It’s church ado about nothing
★ SPIRITUAL deep fakes are being slapped down by the hand of God – the Pope is bringing in new rules to stop the spread of fake miracle reports, as we revealed yesterday.
★ From a weeping Virgin Mary to so-called sightings of Jesus, the Catholic church plans to crack down on fraudsters trying to pull the wool over believers’ eyes, like the leaking church roof in Only Fools And Horses.
★ Here KIM CARR reveals 10 tales of ecclesiastical paranormal activity…
1 It boasts the title of one of the most haunted homes in the UK and at 30 East Drive, Pontefract, poltergeist activity is so rife it was made into a movie. When The Lights Went Out told how the Pritchard family were driven out and now it’s a popular tourist attraction for spook hunters. The Black Monk, aka Fred, is said to be responsible for making holy water seep out of the walls, attacking clergymen sent to cleanse the property and violently attacking the Pritchards’ daughter Diane, leaving marks around her throat.
2 The spirit of a nun is said to linger at Borley Rectory in Essex, which has seen reports of creepy activity since being built on grounds after a fire in 1939. It’s said the site was where a monk was executed for having an affair with a nun from a nearby convent, who was bricked up alive.
3 Lindisfarne Castle is an impressive site upon Holy Island, which can be driven to on low tide. The ghost of St Cuthbert, the patron saint of Northumbria, has been reported to be seen there during a full moon.
4 On the grounds of Newby Hall in North Yorkshire, Reverend Kenneth F Lord took a photo of the “Spectre of Newby Church”. The phantom is considered to be a 16th Century monk.
5 At the first non-Roman Catholic cathedral to be built in Western Europe, St Columb’s in Derry, Northern Ireland, mystery footsteps began, the organ played itself and shadowy figures started appearing in photos after renovations in 1867 disturbed the tomb of ex-Bishop, William Higgins.
6 Before fame, Bob Hoskins worked at a warehouse in London’s Covent Garden when he saw a religious spectre. He recalls: “I was down in the cellar when, on the wall, appeared a woman’s face. She was wearing a nun’s habit and reaching out to me with upwardly turned hands. She spoke but I couldn’t tell what she said.” 7 The restless spirit of Sister Barbara haunts Vinegar Hill in Marham, who set up highwaymen to pilfer their riches and was bricked up alive behind a wall at Marham Abbey. She floats around on November nights.
8 Colchester Castle boasts the spook of English preacher James Parnell, who died there after being imprisoned for blasphemy.
9 Shadowy figures resembling priests have been reported at Charnock Hall outside Preston, where 17th Century Catholic priest Robert Charnock lived.
10 Strolling along the promenade of Welsh town Prestatyn in a white dress and reading the Bible, the ghost of a nun has been seen by many holidaymakers.