Bishop Auckland Church said to be haunted

Disembodied footsteps, ghost of a woman and voices are heard throughout this 1914 year old church. Although the article talks about a “hazy figure” captured on the CCTV camera, I could not find the video anywhere on the net.

Spooked staff tell of hazy female figure and mysterious light captured on CCTV in former church building

THE haunted halls of a Bishop Auckland church converted into a community centre have become a hotbed of paranormal activity say spooked staff.

In the past few months, staff and visitors at the Four Clock’s Centre on Newgate Street have sensed spirits, captured orbs on cameras and heard mysterious footsteps in empty rooms.

The community centre, which is home to several organisations including the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Bishop Auckland Town Council was opened in 2002 after a major refurbishment inside the 1914 built church.

Centre co-ordinator Pamela Hope said: “Our CCTV camera captured what looked like a very hazy figure in the back passageway and also what looked like a circle of light moving across the floor and through the wall.

“One member of staff said she saw a woman in a hat which fits with it being an old church.
“During winter I had all the lights on and was sat at my desk when a shadow crept across my computer screen. At first I though it was somebody coming up behind me but when I turned around there was nobody there.

“There was also one night where a few of us had stayed late and we heard footsteps coming from the room upstairs.
“I was scared that there might be someone locked in who would be a bit angry but again there was nothing.”

Employee Helen White said there had been several cases of doors shutting themselves and being locked on the inside.

She said: “This church went through some dramatic changes when the centre was created and you can’t help but wonder whether the building work disrupted the spirits.
Several people have said they have sensed spirits although they all say they are benign so at least we don’t have to worry about having a violent ghost.”

Ghost hunter Dean “Midas” Maynard from Crook said the building is the sort of place that would attract spirits and has offered to spend a night there. He said: “It’s a fantastic building and I have heard rumours about ghosts being there. I would love to spend a night and see what we find.

“A lot of ghosts hang around a place where they were happy in life and I think, because it was a church, it could hold some happy memories for some spirits which is why there is so much activity.
It’s got that look about it that you know there’s something going on and it’s no surprise that there is some residual energy there.”

Full source: WearValley Mercury