Myth & Legend
The
following is a transcript of a article written by Dr James
Clegg, Presbyterian Minister at Chapel-en-le-Frith and recounted
in a letter to The Glossopdale Chronicle, dated Saturday, September
1st, 1860. It purports to be based on an eyewitness account of
the happenings in Hayfield on the last day of August 1745
"Alleged Raising of Spirits at
Hayfield"
"I know you are pleased with anything curious and uncommon
in nature and if what follows shall appear such, I can assure
you from eyewitnesses of the event of every particular. In a church
at about three miles distance from us, the indecent custom still
prevails of burying the dead in the place set apart for the devotions
of the living, yet the parish not being very populous one would
scarce imagine the inhabitants of the grave could be strained
for want of room, yet it would seem so for on the last of August,
hundreds of bodies rose out of the grave in the open air in that
Church to the great astonishment and terror of several spectators.
They deserted the coffin and rising out of the grave immediately
ascended directly towards Heaven, singing in consert all along
as they mounted through the air.
"They had no winding sheets about
them yet did not appear quite naked, their vesture appeared streaked
with gold, interlaced with sable, skirted with white yet thought
to be exceeding light by the agility of their motions and the
swiftness of their ascent. They left a most fragrant and delicious
odour behind them but were quickly out of sight and what is become
of them or in what distant region of this vast system they have
since fixed their residence no mortal can tell.
"The church is Heafield, three
miles from Chappell Frith, 1745"
(the Bulls Head Inn is next door
to the Church! ed)
What do you know about
Boggat House
Fairy Bank
Mermaids Pool
The Lost Legion
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