Shadows in the Nave

by Paul Adams, Eddie Brazil, Peter Underwood

A comprehensive history and guide to England's 75 most haunted churches, chapels, and churchyards The haunted history of England's churches and chapels is brought vividly to life in this comprehensive and beautifully illustrated modern guide. Readers will encounter the compelling world of the unseen linked with a thousand years of worship, including the Tudor phantom of Rycote, the lonely monk of Minsden Chapel, and the black-magic ghosts of Clophill, to name but a few. Combining a wealth of historical and paranormal information with stunning original and atmospheric photographs, this volume is perfect for researchers and armchair ghost hunters alike.

Genres: Paranormal

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2011

About the author

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Reviews

[Deanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this at the moment, reminds me of my childhood, used to spend lots of time in the graveyard at Sawley All Saints Church. Had horsechestnut trees at the back with lots of conkers to collect. there were also stone vaults and old headstones though we made sure we stayed off the graves.
The church dates from the 11th century but most of the building is from the 13th, just always felt peaceful, though don't think it's haunted.
Was surprised that some churches and cathedrals appeared to be missing, was under the impression that Canterbury cathedral was haunted for a start, as is Westham in East Sussex.

[Michael John Paul McManus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read, Paul Adams presents each piece first with a short history of a particular church and then the sightings by witnesses or from old articles regarding who or what haunts these old buildings. Some of them long gone, most of them still standing today. An informative read for the history buff and ghost Hunter alike.

[S.C. Skillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but did feel that under each church listed there could have been less description of the geographical/historical details of the church, and more examination of the specific historic background/explanation of the apparition. At times I felt that the supposed "haunting" of the church was rather "vaporous" - pun intended! i.e. it had been given too much credence. Nevertheless this was a fascinating survey. I was left wondering how many of these ghosts wander through the abbeys, churchyards and former monasteries unseen. Does a ghost only exist if a living being sees, and reports it? I was also struck by the number of ghost monks who appear in the sites of their former monasteries; perhaps understandable when one considers the trauma the monks must have suffered during the brutality with which the monasteries were suppressed by Henry VIII. The theory of "psychic recording" did make sense to me and in many cases may account for these apparitions. Nevertheless, one is always left with a few cases for which this theory does not apply. I recommend this book for anyone interested in the paranormal; the photographs in particular are very atmospheric; and the book is also an excellent guide to English churches and abbeys which are well worth a visit!

[Cornerofmadness · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just as the title says, it's a true hauntings book featuring the churches of England. I liked that we got a tiny bit of history of the church as well as the haunting with each one and there are so many in this book, it feels like every church in the country must be haunted. I enjoyed seeing the pictures. Some of these look amazingly old and lonesome and they, of course, are.

They did make a point about substantiating the hauntings but I wasn't sure how. I wasn't sure if the authors were the ones trying to do that or if they were going off the work of other ghost hunting teams. Some places were just word of mouth and noted as such.

It's a well done, interesting survey.

[Jana Denardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually enjoy true-haunting books and I did enjoy this one. It probably would have been a shorter book if one asked which churches in Englands aren't haunted. For each case, they gave coordinates for finding the church (or ruins), a bit of the history and the claimed haunting. If nothing else, I have a few places I'd like to visit if I ever get back to England.