A large package of land came with the church and included an ancient burial ground and a ruined priory. “Perfect, absolutely perfect” said the would-be buyer as he first clapped eyes on what he hoped was to become their new home. Craig Vernon and his wife Ingrid had been searching for a suitable house for many months before a lucky break gave them access to this unusual property in their chosen county, it wasn’t properly on the market yet as the bishop still had to perform the special service of de-sanctification. A former place of worship was never in their thoughts but having heard of other such excellent conversions the wealthy couple decided to at least investigate the possibilities. In the event the land and history surrounding the now redundant church was more than enough to persuade them to purchase. The Church dedicated to Our Lady was down a deserted country lane and by a river. Unusually it possessed a round tower with a castellated top and a solid stone roof. As they walked through the entrance porch-way Ingrid stopped as though turned to stone. With a sharp intake of breath she shivered and asked Craig if he had felt it? “An ice cold blast of air had struck her dumb for the moment.” She said it felt as though a clammy hand was on her shoulder. Craig joked that churches had built-in draught holes to keep folk awake during boring sermons. They passed through the vestibule and into the main body of the church where Ingrid stopped to read the visitors book. Thumbing through the recent pages she noticed several entries had been covered over with white sticky tape but the edges were curled up as the damp air had penetrated. Mischievously she peeled a couple of white strips back and remarked that the writing underneath was a strange spidery script and the message was equally strange: “why don’t you believe we really exist?” Craig leaned over her, deliberately placing his hand on her shoulder and said it was probably kids fooling about. The agency said that the 16th. Century font with its gothic decoration was to be removed by the church authorities but the new owners could purchase items of oak panelling and pews. “ Just listen to that echo!” said Craig as his eyes took in the high vaulted ceiling. The long Chancel had a priests door set in the south wall and directly above the pulpit was a brilliant stained glass window that his agency notes told him was in memory of King James the fourth. There were three disembodied children’s heads depicted in the glass as well as a full length study of the king. Outside in the burial ground most of the headstones were laid flat but Ingrid found one ancient stone that bore a large Scull and Crossbones. The writing was almost worn away and the only readable part of the inscription referred to a:“William (Billy) Bones who travelled wide to seek a bride, then brought her home and sadly died!” As the young couple explored the land they wandered down to the ruined priory and were amazed to see that the roofless, ivy covered remains still had a well-kept private chapel gate. This was an eight-foot high, ornamental wrought iron, padlocked gate, inside which were several oblong tombstones dedicated to former Priors. Craig read that access would still be required for any surviving member of the Priory’s Order who chose to visit. For some reason Ingrid was reluctant to come any closer and became quite breathless. She said that strange feeling had come over her again. Craig took her back inside the church and as she sat down on a pew she complained she had never been baptised and further more she could hear children crying. “Look there!” she cried. They both starred aghast. The pulpit was shrouded in a mist like dry ice and through it they could see several rough looking soldiers in period uniforms, swords by their sides, and on the high alter was a body laid out, about to be executed by a brawny masked man with a raised axe. Ingrid ran out, screaming never to set foot in the place again and Craig quickly followed her, white with terror and throwing away the agency leaflets. Without hesitation they started their car and roared off the way they had come.