1.
Church of St. Andrews (Staten Island, New York) — Founded in 1708, the Church of St. Andrews was once used as a Revolutionary War hospital. Over the years, people have reported seeing apparitions, disembodied voices, and even pictures falling off the walls.
Because there were so many of these paranormal reports happening, the church was actually featured in the Ghost Hunters episode “Little Drummer Boy.” Interestingly, during one of their EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) sessions, TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) team members heard strange noises. So, they asked the spirits to come closer…and they did.
2.
Adams Grove Presbyterian Church (Dallas County, Alabama) — Although this historic church, which was built in 1853, is no longer active, there have still been plenty of active creepy sightings over the years. Visitors and paranormal investigators have reported various unexplained phenomena, including a man with glowing red eyes in both the church and the cemetery, the ghost of a Confederate soldier, a preaching minister, and even a crying baby.
3.
The Old Dutch Church (Sleepy Hollow, New York) — Built in the late 17th century, the Old Dutch Church is most famous for being featured in the short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. The church’s cemetery is one of the oldest burial grounds in the United States.
Many Dutch settlers were buried in the church’s cemetery, including some who died under mysterious or violent circumstances. Aside from the influence of Irving’s story, including the tale of the Headless Horseman, people have reported seeing strange lights, apparitions, and unexplained sounds in this area.
4.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (Cheyenne, Wyoming) — In 1886, two Swedish immigrant masons were hired to construct the bell tower. However, during the early stages of the project, one of them fell to his death. Fearing legal consequences and potential deportation, the surviving mason hid his dead colleague’s body within the tower’s wall and built around him. Since then, people have reported hearing hammering, banging, and strange whispers coming from the tower’s walls.
5.
St. Louis Cathedral (New Orleans, Louisiana) — Built in 1789, the St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic cathedral in the United States. It is located in the famous French Quarter and has a long history of ghost sightings and hauntings.
Some of the most commonly cited hauntings include the ghost of pirate Jean Lafitte and the ghost of a priest named Father Dagobert, who was rumored to have been involved in odd behavior while he was still alive.
6.
The King’s Chapel and Burying Ground (Boston, Massachusetts) — The King’s Chapel, built in 1686, is one of the oldest churches in Boston and has deep connections to the early colonial history of the United States. The burying ground, which actually dates back to 1630, is among the oldest cemeteries in America and holds the remains of many early settlers.
Interestingly, the graves in this burial ground are not arranged in a uniform or orderly fashion (which became common in cemeteries later on). Many graves were hastily dug, and bodies were sometimes stacked on top of each other because of space constraints. Over time, this led to rumors of restless spirits. In more recent years, visitors and staff have reported witnessing strange occurrences, such as cold spots, eerie sounds, and glimpses of figures or shadows.
7.
St. Michael’s Church (Charleston, South Carolina) — Completed in 1761, one of the most popular legends surrounding St. Michael’s Church is the “Bride of St. Michael’s.” According to local lore, a woman named Harriet Mackie was poisoned on her wedding day and now haunts the church in her wedding dress.
8.
Most Holy Trinity Church (Brooklyn, New York) — Built in the late 1800s, Most Holy Trinity Church was constructed on land that was previously used as a cemetery. Local rumors suggest that not all the bodies were exhumed from the graveyards, and the spirits of those left behind still inhabit the grounds to this day. One of the most famous spirits is that of a former parish clerk named George Stelz, who was brutally murdered in 1897. It is believed that his blood, along with the bloody handprint of his murderer, can still be seen on one of the walls in the bell tower stairway.
9.
Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — Founded in 1695 as a parish of the Church of England, Christ Church in Philadelphia is the burial ground of many important historical figures, including Benjamin Franklin. Historical reports of creepy happenings like a woman’s voice and strange bells have been documented since at least the 1800s. There have also been stories of hidden passageways, underground tunnels, and skeletons in the church and its grounds.
10.
St. Mary’s Church (Kansas City, Missouri) — Established in 1854, when it was then called St. Luke’s Mission, St. Mary’s was home to a controversial priest named Henry Jardine (who was responsible for changing the church’s name to St. Mary’s). Jardine had a history of breaking the law and having “questionable” behavior. Some of his antics included being caught in compromising situations with women and also using chloroform to treat chronic pain.
After years of clashing with the townsfolk, and the law, Jardine was eventually found dead next to a bottle of chloroform. After (and for many years since) his death, parishioners have claimed to have seen the ghost of Jardine and even sensed his presence in the church.
11.
St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery (New York City, New York) — Completed in 1799, St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery is the second-oldest church building in Manhattan and New York City’s oldest site of continuous religious practice. It also has a reputation for being haunted, specifically by the ghost of Peter Stuyvesant, whose body is entombed in a wall there. People have reported hearing his wooden leg thumping around, especially during services. And some even claim to have seen a “stern-looking man in 17th-century garb” around the premises.
12.
Washington National Cathedral (Washington, D.C.) — Although construction started in 1907, the Washington National Cathedral was officially completed in 1990. Ghostly sightings of President Woodrow Wilson, whose tomb rests in the church, have been reported by several people, with some claiming to hear the sounds of his cane echoing against the walls, too. Interestingly, Wilson is the only American president buried in Washington, D.C.
13.
St. John’s Episcopal Church (Richmond, Virginia) — This historical church was built in 1741 but is most famous for being the location where politician Patrick Henry gave his speech with the closing line, “Give me liberty or give me death!” in 1775. Its cemetery has a reputation for being haunted and is even connected to the famously dark writer and poet Edgar Allen Poe — his mother is buried there.
14.
The Old North Church (Boston, Massachusetts) — Built in 1723, the Old North Church is the oldest church in Boston and a significant landmark in American history. It is best known for the “One if by land, two if by sea” signal, which was used during Paul Revere’s midnight ride to alert the colonies about British troop movements.
However, there’s a famous ghost story related to the Old North Church that involves the spirit of Major John Pitcairn, a British officer who fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolution. Legend has it Pitcairn’s ghost appears as a figure in military uniform, often seen walking through the church, particularly near the bell tower.
15.
The Basilica of St. Lawrence (Asheville, North Carolina) — Built in 1905, the Basilica of St. Lawrence was designed by Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino, who died before the Basilica was completed. Subsequently, he was interred within the church’s walls, though many were unhappy about it. Aside from strange occurrences like cold spots and lights flickering, some visitors have claimed to witness apparitions resembling Guastavino himself.
16.
Grace Episcopal Church (Yorktown, Virginia) — Built in 1697, Grace Episcopal is reportedly haunted by the spirits of Confederate soldiers who perished in the Civil War. Visitors claim to have seen apparitions, particularly during quiet evenings.
17.
Finally, Chapel of the Cross (Madison, Mississippi) — Built in 1852, records show that this church was commissioned by a woman, Margaret Johnstone, in honor of her late husband. In a dark twist, Margaret’s daughter, Helen, would go on to also have a sad connection to the church.
Helen’s fiancé died just days before their own wedding in a duel, and, being so heartbroken, she never fully recovered. People to this day have reported seeing her spirit, wearing her wedding dress, still wandering the cemetery.
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