The Ghostly Monks of Borley Church

Long before Borley Rectory gained its reputation as “the most haunted house in England,” the parish church and its surrounding grounds were already known for ghostly activity. Spectral monks, a phantom nun, and other apparitions have been reported in the Borley churchyard since at least the Victorian era.

The Church

The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Borley, is a small medieval parish church dating from the twelfth century. It sits in a rural area of Essex, surrounded by fields and the remains of what was once a more substantial settlement. The church itself is ancient, atmospheric, and seemingly appropriate for hauntings.

A Benedictine monastery is said to have existed near the site in medieval times. According to local legend, a monk from this monastery fell in love with a nun from a nearby convent. They attempted to elope but were caught. The monk was executed, and the nun was bricked up alive in the convent walls.

The Phantom Nun

The ghost of a nun has been reported at Borley since the nineteenth century. She appears as a dark figure in a black habit, walking along a path known as the Nun’s Walk. She moves silently, head bowed, as if in prayer or penance.

Witnesses have encountered the nun at various times, most often at dusk. She appears suddenly, walks for some distance, and then vanishes. Those who have seen her describe a feeling of profound sadness emanating from the figure.

The nun has been seen not only at the church but also on the grounds where Borley Rectory once stood. The rectory, which burned in 1939, was famous for its own hauntings, many of which involved the same spectral nun.

The Ghostly Monks

Multiple monks have been seen in the churchyard and along the lane leading to the church. They appear in dark robes, sometimes in procession, sometimes individually. Like the nun, they move silently and seem unaware of living observers.

One frequently reported monk is described as tall, in a black habit with a cowl over his head. He has been seen standing among the gravestones, looking toward the church. When approached, he fades into nothing.

Another monk has been reported carrying a lantern. The light moves through the churchyard at night, seemingly floating just above the ground. Witnesses who have followed the light report that it leads to the church and then vanishes.

The Coach

A phantom coach has been reported on the road near Borley Church. It appears as a dark vehicle drawn by black horses, moving silently despite the apparent weight and motion. The coach has been seen by motorists and pedestrians alike.

The coach is sometimes accompanied by the sound of hooves and wheels, though these sounds are often described as faint or muffled. On other occasions, the coach is completely silent. It appears, travels some distance, and vanishes.

The Rectory Connection

Borley Rectory, built in 1862 near the church, became famous as the most haunted house in England after investigations by Harry Price in the 1930s. Price documented numerous phenomena including the phantom nun, poltergeist activity, and mysterious messages.

The rectory burned mysteriously in 1939. Excavations afterward reportedly uncovered human bones beneath the floor. Whether these were the remains of the legendary nun or had some other origin was never determined.

After the rectory’s destruction, paranormal activity at the site continued. Visitors to the ruins reported apparitions, sounds, and the same phantom nun. Even today, with the rectory long gone, the area maintains its haunted reputation.

Modern Investigations

Paranormal investigators continue to visit Borley Church and its surroundings. They report varying results. Some encounter nothing unusual. Others report electromagnetic anomalies, unexpected photographs, and even sightings.

The church itself remains an active place of worship. Services are held regularly. The haunted reputation attracts visitors but does not define the church, which continues to serve its small community.

Skeptical Perspectives

Critics have noted that much of Borley’s fame rests on Harry Price’s investigations, which have been criticized as sensationalist and possibly fraudulent. The legends of monks and nuns may be just that: legends without basis in historical fact.

No documentary evidence confirms the existence of a monastery at Borley or the execution of an eloping monk and nun. The story may be a fabrication that attached itself to an atmospheric location.

The Enduring Mystery

Whether genuinely haunted or merely the subject of persistent legend, Borley Church and its surroundings remain among England’s most famous supernatural sites. The combination of ancient architecture, atmospheric setting, and centuries of reported phenomena creates a location that seems to embody the idea of a haunted place.

The ghostly monks and the phantom nun continue to be reported. Whether they represent genuine spirits, psychological projections, or simple fabrications, they have become permanent residents of Borley’s landscape.