Ghost in good spirits.
A vicar whose home is haunted by a fun-loving ghost called Fred says the friendly phantom can drop in for a visit any time he likes. The Rev. Brian Butterworth ,46, of Ringley, near Farnworth, Lancs, says: “I don’t intend to exorcise Fred. He’s too friendly.”
Mr Butterworth said the ghost hides things in the strangest places, switches on lights in the middle of the night and opens and shuts doors.
The vicar’s wife, Sheila, says: “Fred has whipped the bread knife from my hand several times while I have been cutting a loaf.”
Sunday Mirror, 23rd January 1977.
Some months earlier Joyce and I had visited Ringley Vicarage near Bolton with Freda and Steuart Kiernander, following reports that on two occasions in the space of two years incumbents had voluntarily left due to strange happenings and an ‘odd presence’ in the house.
The Rev. Brian Butterworth experienced strange and apparently inexplicable disturbances soon after moving into the vicarage when ornaments were disturbed, footsteps were heard, doors would unlock by themselves and a sweet odour was reported on many occasions. After a visitor reported experiencing a curious sensation of fear, the vicar attempted an exorcism, but as the ceremony progressed the room suddenly became very hot, then icy cold, and afterwards the phenomena continued. When a visitor reported seeing something which she said looked like a gargoyle, the vicar moved out but not before his son awoke one night to find a mattress lying on top of him which he had left leaning against a wall ten feet away, and the vicar saw the figure of a young woman dressed in teh costume of the sixteenth century.
She apparently said her name was Agnes, and intimated that she had been the victim of a witch hunt. The vicar absolved her and she disappeared; however, a second presence now began to make itself known in the house, opening doors and interfering with various articles, and although this entity was never seen it was all very disturbing. This was especially so since previously the Rev. Harold Benbridge had left the house after reporting a strange presence in various parts of the house, and particularly the bathroom.
We explored the house, inside and outside, for it was empty at the time of our visit and the property was up for sale. The estate agent who let us look over the house was well aware of the stories connected with the property, but had nothing to add to our findings.
We interviewed several people who were convinced that the place was haunted, and one who was certain that it was not! The place has, or had, a very curious atmosphere, but we decided that there was insufficient good evidence to warrant a full-scale investigation.
No common task: the autobiography of a ghost-hunter – Peter Underwood, 1983.