The Old Baptist Church
26th May 2007
My scepticism has been tested over the years due to
a number of interesting but inexplicable paranormal. Readers who have
followed my stories in either the Paranormal Magazine or on this website
will know that I seek irrefutable evidence that life does not necessarily
end when we die.
I have recently joined Northern Ghost Investigations (NGI). This is a great team of people who investigate some really interesting locations. Since meeting this group I have come to realise that the potential to discover the truth is a lot more interesting when you take the journey with a team of people who share your interest but not necessarily your belief.
Since my Shadowman experience not a lot has happened and I felt that my scepticism had taken a much firmer grip. That was until we investigated the Old Baptist Church in Hendon, Sunderland. Now I feel more 'open minded' again. Rather than write about the whole investigation, which can be found online at the NGI website, I'm going to tell you about my experience.
A Brief History
The foundation stone for Lindsay Road Baptist Church was laid in January 1877 and the church opened for services the following September. It has survived two world wars and was used as a temporary mortuary during those devastating times. Its purpose as a church ended in 1966. Fortunately, in 1986, Sunderland Sea Cadets acquired the building and transformed the interior into a ship complete with decks, masts, engine room and messes. Around 25 years ago a young man was found hanged from one of the arched roof supports, it was said his death might have been the result of misadventure. The building now has the name Old Baptist Church.
The Investigation
On May 26th 2007, the NGI team and myself visited the church for an over-night investigation. We arrived at 10pm and began to set up our equipment. Baseline checks were carried out before we began:
Weather: warm and dry,
EMF: averaged 0-2mG,
Temperature: averaged 19°c
Humidity: averaged 45-60%.
All power was cut via the main circuit board and the emergency lights were covered with black bags to make it as dark as possible. We split into three teams. Our team was to remain on the main deck (main hall) another was to go to the lower deck (underground rooms) and the third team went on the boat deck (gallery). Verna, the Chief Petty Officer, talked about the building as if it was a real ship and so we all used the correct terminology. By the end of the investigation it seemed odd to call the rooms anything else - but I digress!
I was with Andrea and Bruce. We sat in the dark and
listened to the building as it settled. Knocks and cracks were heard,
but nothing out of the ordinary to me. The other two teams were well
out of sight and so we decided to split up to do lone investigations.
Bruce went into the female mess (locker room), Andrea went into the male
heads (toilets) and I remained on the main deck and band store (main
hall and store room). My first 'paranormal' experience of
the night was about to transpire.
After 45 minutes it was time for a quick break and to swap locations. My earlier experience was still playing on my mind. As a sceptic, I find it hard to accept that we can communicate with the spirit world never mind that one actually exists. Curiosity led me to talk to the team sensitive, Pam. Without giving Pam too much detail I tried to describe the person who I thought I sensed earlier. Pam confirmed his description as well as the attitude he impressed on me at the time. This didn’t help matters; it just made it even more confusing for me.
The next 45 minutes was spent on the lower deck. Originally this was one large space like the main hall but it was sectioned off into the mess deck (large dining area), galley (kitchen), engine room (large store room), committee room and offices. This was also the level that was used as a mortuary.
We started at the stern (back of the building) and worked our way forward. We spent time together in each room and took turns to call out for spirit communication but got nothing. At one point we were all sat in a small classroom beside the engine room when we heard what I could only describe as heavy furniture being dragged and dropped across the floor above. We assumed this to be the other team and so thought nothing more of it. While in the mess deck we heard the same heavy dragging, banging sound again. I wondered what on earth they were doing up there. For me, the lower deck investigation showed nothing of a paranormal nature, but it had began to rain heavily and it made quite a din on the metal shutters that protected the external doors. It was time for a break.
My team joined the other team on the main deck. They were sat quietly on the floor in the dark. Before I had a chance to ask what they had been doing, Verna said, "Don't ask us what we were banging, cos we assumed it was you!" At first I thought she was joking but clearly there was nothing in the area that could have been dragged across the floor to make that noise. For once I was stumped for an answer! What could have made such a loud noise? Pipes? Infrasound? On this occasion I'd have to admit defeat.
The three teams got together on the main deck for a drink, snack and a chat. While they chatted I decided to go upstairs alone for a few photographs.
The upper gallery over looks the main deck and it is possible to walk around the perimeter of the building through a series of rooms. At the top of the stairs if you turn left, you have two stores, three offices and the wardroom (bar) before it leads you back down the stairs. So, I turned left at the top of the stairs and started to take photographs in the cadet store. It was here that I sensed the man with me again; the same man who I'd sensed downstairs. I continued to take photographs as I walked through each adjoining room along the boat deck (gallery). Whoever this person was, he followed me from room to room.
Again, I didn't feel threatened and I sensed amusement and curiosity from the dark space in front of me. So I said, "Don't mind me I'm just taking photos," as I wanted to acknowledge the sensation but not lose it. Although I didn't get a reply (or if there was one I didn't hear it) the sensation didn't leave me. A thought crossed my mind at this point. If I could just get this 'spirit?' to follow me downstairs I could maybe ask Pam to see if she can see anyone with me. My senses told me that whoever this was, he was only a couple of metres away at most. By now I was in the wardroom (bar) and not far from the stairs to the main deck. He was still there, great I thought. I then walked out of the bar and took a few steps and the sensation began to fade. Oh no, I thought. I walked back to the door and the feeling grew stronger. So I said, "Will you come with me downstairs?" but I only had silence. I sensed smiling eyes watching me as though he knew my plan but wasn't prepared to go along with it.
"Come on, you've come this far," I asked,
as I walked away from the wardroom towards the stairs. I just knew that
this man was stood at the bar with a grin on his face while he watched
me go back downstairs.
I shared this experience with the team purely because I needed to tell someone. As readers of my previous stories will know, I've had a few 'sense' related stories but this one reached a whole new level.
The team decided to try a seance. This would last for about 40 minutes. A couple of taps were heard but to me this was the building settling - nothing of a spirit nature. I wondered if my amused spirit would show up, but sadly, no.
We would end our evening with our final investigation, back upstairs on the boat deck. Myself, Bruce and Andrea spent time in each room. But we got or sensed nothing in the first three rooms. While Andrea and Bruce sat in one office, I went next door alone and briefly sensed the man again and knew that this would be the last time I would have this feeling tonight. I called to Andrea and Bruce to say that I could feel the presence again but he went as soon as I said it.
For me, the evening was over. We finished our investigation and ended with a chat about the facts and history of the place with those who chose not to know at the beginning. We left the Old Baptist Church at 3.30am.
For me this is my best investigation to date purely because of the feelings I had. As a sceptic I'm not impressed by taps, knocks and orbs - they are usually easy to explain, but those feelings and emotions - where did they come from? I've since wondered if this is how mediums feel, but also wonder why these experiences are so few and far between, perhaps it is just my imagination!
So my journey continues to pose more questions than answers - but it's still an interesting one and I can't wait for the next investigation.
Sunderland Sea Cadets
If you're interested in joining or helping the Sunderland Sea Cadets
please contact:
Chief Petty Officer, Verna McCone
0191 5651372.
Northern Ghost Investigations
Visit Northern
Ghost Investigations for news and information on all things paranormal.
They also have a great forum where you can ask or answer questions or
just have fun meeting people with similar interests. NGI have 'guest
evenings' where the team invite guests out on an investigation.
Visit their website for details.
Old Baptist Church Gallery
For more pictures of this investigation Click
Here.
This story was published
in Paranormal Magazine,
Issue 21 .