The haunted halls of a Bishop Auckland (County Durham, UK) church converted into a community center have become a hotbed of paranormal activity say spooked staff.

In the past few months, staff and visitors at the Four Clock’s Center on Newgate Street have sensed spirits, captured orbs on cameras and heard mysterious footsteps in empty rooms.

The community center, which is home to several organizations including the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Bishop Auckland Town Council was opened in 2002 after a major refurbishment inside the 1914 built church.

Center coordinator Pamela Hope said: “Our CCTV camera captured what looked like a very hazy figure in the back passageway and also what looked like a circle of light moving across the floor and through the wall.

“One member of staff said she saw a woman in a hat which fits with it being an old church.

“During winter I had all the lights on and was sat at my desk when a shadow crept across my computer screen. At first I though it was somebody coming up behind me but when I turned around there was nobody there.

“There was also one night where a few of us had stayed late and we heard footsteps coming from the room upstairs.

“I was scared that there might be someone locked in who would be a bit angry but again there was nothing.”

Employee Helen White said there had been several cases of doors shutting themselves and being locked on the inside.

She said: “This church went through some dramatic changes when the center was created and you can’t help but wonder whether the building work disrupted the spirits.

Several people have said they have sensed spirits although they all say they are benign so at least we don’t have to worry about having a violent ghost.”

Ghost hunter Dean “Midas” Maynard from Crook said the building is the sort of place that would attract spirits and has offered to spend a night there. He said: “It’s a fantastic building and I have heard rumors about ghosts being there. I would love to spend a night and see what we find.

“A lot of ghosts hang around a place where they were happy in life and I think, because it was a church, it could hold some happy memories for some spirits which is why there is so much activity.

It’s got that look about it that you know there’s something going on and it’s no surprise that there is some residual energy there.”

Phantoms and Monsters