The Kirk Spook by E. G. Swain (1927) | A Forgotten Classic Ghost Story

What happens when a ghost finds himself trapped inside his own church for six hundred years? In this wonderfully unusual tale from E. G. Swain’s Stoneground Ghost Tales, we meet Caleb Dean, the parish clerk and sexton of Stoneground during the reign of William IV. Entirely at home among the ancient pews and shadows of his church, Caleb thinks nothing of entering it alone close to midnight. But one Saturday night, after tending the church fires, he discovers an unexpected companion — a mysterious figure who claims to have occupied the church for centuries and who has a rather peculiar reason for being unable to leave. The Kirk Spook reveals the lighter side of Swain’s supernatural imagination, blending English folklore, ecclesiastical history and gentle humour into a charming variation on the traditional ghost story. Read by Christopher Halton If you enjoy the classic ghost stories of M. R. James, Algernon Blackwood, E. F. Benson and other masters of supernatural fiction, please consider subscribing to Haunted Tales of Darkness for new narrations every week. 0:14 - Introduction 1:43 - Main Story 17:41 - Epilogue If you would like to help support future work, you can now support the channel directly via Patreon.   / chrishalton   Every story involves many hours of writing, research, editing, recording, artwork, and production to preserve the spirit of classic supernatural storytelling. There is never any obligation, of course, and simply watching, listening, commenting, and sharing already helps enormously. But for those who wish to contribute monthly, or leave the occasional gift of support, it is deeply appreciated and directly helps keep new stories and projects alive. Thank you for supporting Haunted Tales of Darkness.