Ghosts of Westminster Abbey Revealed

  • By Sam Ashford
  • First Published: February 3, 2025
  • Last Updated: September 18, 2025

Westminster Abbey

Magnificent Westminster Abbey is part of the fabric of British History. The iconic Abbey is significant as a place of royal ceremonies, burials, and memorials to the famous and great.

More than a few ghost stories emanate from its hallowed history. We venture into the cloisters and other haunted places to uncover the spooky intrigue within its Gothic walls.

Background To Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is formally known as the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster. In the 1040s King Edward built a large stone church and incorporated into it a monastery of Benedictine monks. This original church was built in honour of Saint Peter the Apostle.

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The structure has undergone significant changes and expansions over the centuries. Construction of the church as we know it today began in 1245 on the orders of King Henry III. The large cathedral-like building is located in the City of Westminster near Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.

The Abbey serves as a church for regular worship and a hallowed space to celebrate major national events. There have been sixteen royal weddings and around 3,300 burials at Westminster Abbey. Since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, all coronations of English and British monarchs have taken place here.

A Ghost At King Charles III’s Coronation?

Talking of coronations, a mysterious cloaked figure caused a stir during the most recent coronation. As the Royal Family, politicians, and dignitaries gathered to crown Charles the new king on 6 May 2023 an unexpected presence resembling a Grim Reaper appeared.

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As The Independent reports, “Coronation viewers have been left baffled after a mysterious cloaked figure appeared to run past the doors at Westminster Abbey. Military personnel were making their way into the ceremony where King Charles III was to be crowned, when the hooded person walked quickly past on-screen, clutching a scythe-shaped object.”

Who was this mystery character? Most believe it was an Abbey verger. If the figure was a ghost, who might it have been? There are a few likely suspects including Father Benedictus and John Bradshaw. Let’s investigate these spectral entities further.

The Most Famous Ghosts of Westminster Abbey

There are three widely-recognised ghosts linked to Westminster Abbey.

Father Benedictus

Father Benedictus is probably the most famous ghost in Westminster Abbey. Some believe he was the apparition that visited King Charles’s coronation. Father Benedictus is described as a solid “tall cowled figure” – which resembles the vestments and appearance of the image seen on 6 May 2023.

Father Benedictus is believed to be a monk who was killed in the Abbey during the reign of King Henry VIII, possibly murdered by robbers trying to steal treasures from the Pyx Chamber.

Benedictus has a connection with Charles as he was seen in the Abbey around the time of the wedding of Lady Elizabeth Bowles (the late Queen Mum) to the Duchess of York (King George VI).

Other sightings and reports of the monk include:

  • A recorded encounter with Father Benedictus occurred in 1900 when two young women saw him standing contemplatively in the cloisters. He was present for twenty-five minutes before vanishing into a wall.
  • Late one day in 1932, Father Benedictus appeared to two American tourists. They were panicky because they thought they’d been locked in. In a friendly and helpful manner, he guided them out of the building. He has reportedly helpfully guided other visitors too.
  • He is often seen walking through the cloisters in the late afternoon.
  • Other witnesses report that Father Benedictus seems to hover slightly above the floor.
  • He has been described as very lifelike, 6 feet, gaunt, pale, and bald. Benedictus can be a charming man and is considered a rather social spirit.

John Bradshaw

John Bradshaw was a 17th-century politician and judge who presided over the treason trial of King Charles I. This dark historical event led to the execution of King I and came back to haunt us. Literally! The ghost of Judge Bradshaw is one of Westminster Abbey’s most infamous disturbed, wandering souls.

What led to his haunted state? When King Charles I was accused of treason in 1648, John Bradshaw was appointed the Lord President of the High Court of Justice to preside over the trial. Bradshaw’s judgment declared the king a tyrant and a traitor and Charles I was executed on 30 January 1649.

Bradshaw was buried in Westminster Abbey some years later. However, this was considered too dignified a resting place for a man blamed for regicide – killing a monarch. King Charles II ordered Bradshaw’s body exhumed and he was posthumously hung at the gallows at Tyburn. His body was then buried beneath the gallows and Bradshaw’s head was displayed on a spike at Westminster Hall.

This grisly treatment fueled the belief that Bradshaw’s unhappy ghost haunts Westminster Abbey. A figure resembling the judge is seen walking the Abbey on the anniversary of King Charles’s execution. He often wears a scarlet robe and appears in a room in the triforium where he once resided.

Bradshaw is also seen in King Henry VII’s chapel – perhaps because Henry VII’s wife was also exhumed from the Abbey and dropped into a common grave. The image seen at King Charles III’s ceremony looked like the Grim Reaper. And Bradshaw was involved with regicide. Makes you wonder?

The Unknown Warrior

In 1920, the British military command in France exhumed the remains of four unidentified British soldiers from the major battlefields on that front. One chosen body was placed in a coffin, transported to London, and buried in the western nave of Westminster Abbey. The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior is a symbolic dedication to all the servicemen who lost their lives in the Great War.

The marble gravestone that marks the tomb reads in part, “Beneath this stone rests the body of a British Warrior unknown by name or rank and bought here to lie among the most illustrious of the land…Buried him among the Kings because he had done good toward God and toward his House.”

Sometimes a ghostly soldier appears a few yards from the Unknown Warrior site. Silent, head bowed respectfully, he is dressed in a muddy British Army WWI uniform. He may occasionally stretch out his hands as if summoning prayer or mercy. After a few moments, he vanishes completely. Visitors to the tomb have reported an inexplicable presence or sensed an unseen figure standing guard.

Lesser Recognised Westminster Abbey Ghosts

While not considered among the UK’s spookiest locations, the Abbey has plenty to intrigue paranormal enthusiasts. Less active or well-documented phenomena include:

  • Queen Elizabeth I: The spirit of Queen Elizabeth I is rumoured to wander the halls of Westminster Abbey. She was buried here following her death in 1603 and is said to appear during times of national crisis.
  • Procession of Black-Robed Men: In 1970 a policeman reportedly witnessed a procession of black-robed men walking in pairs toward the Abbey. He claims they disappeared through the walls and he heard the sound of wonderful music coming from within. The music stopped abruptly when he turned away from the Abbey.
  • Daniel Pulteney: The statue of politician and diplomat Daniel Pulteney in the south cloisters is known to turn the pages of the stone book he is holding.

FAQs

Why do people believe Westminster Abbey is haunted?

Westminster Abbey is over 1,000 years old and is deeply associated with the monarchy. Its centuries-old history has seen countless significant historical events. The spiritual energy that accumulates in such sacred spaces over time often manifests in supernatural phenomena.

Does Westminster Abbey do ghost tours?

Westminster Abbey offers tours and invites the public to worship there but doesn’t normally provide specific ghost or paranormal tours.

Why is Westminster Abbey called a Royal Peculiar?

Westminster Abbey has been a “Royal Peculiar” for over 450 years. This means the church is under the jurisdiction of the monarchy rather than the Church of England.

Conclusion

Westminster Abbey has a heart-moving, captivating cast of spectral characters. The magnificent building is well worth a visit even if it is not conducive to a full ghost hunt with an infrared camera, K2 meter, EMF pump, and your other favourite gear.

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Sam Ashford
Sam Ashford - Author

Hey, I'm Sam Ashford! I'm a ghost-hunting expert, writer and founder of SpiritShack. My mission is to help people like yourself learn about spirituality and how to hunt ghosts!