St. Paul's Episcopal Church

John Fleming's commitment to establishing St. Paul's went beyond simple piety. He envisioned the church as a civilizing influence on Key West, bringing order, morality, and community to an island known for its lawlessness and vice. Fleming donated land, contributed significant funds, and personally recruited clergy to serve the congregation.

Fleming himself is buried in the church cemetery, his grave marked by an imposing monument befitting one of Key West's founding fathers. Some believe that Fleming's spirit remains connected to the church he worked so hard to establish, watching over the congregation and ensuring that his vision continues. Visitors to his grave sometimes report feeling a sense of being observed, as if Fleming is taking note of who pays respects to his memory.

Throughout its history, St. Paul's has served as a refuge during hurricanes when families who feared their homes wouldn't survive the storms sought shelter in the church's solid walls. The church's various buildings witnessed terrifying scenes during major hurricanes—families huddled together praying as winds tore at the structure, children crying in fear, and the terrible moments when the building itself began to fail under the storm's assault.

The Hurricane of 1846, one of the most devastating to strike Key West, killed numerous islanders and destroyed much of the town. Many who survived did so by taking refuge in St. Paul's, though the church building itself sustained major damage. The 1909 hurricane that eventually led to the construction of the current building was similarly catastrophic, and again St. Paul's served as a shelter even as it was being destroyed around the terrified congregation.

These intense experiences—the fear, the prayers, the relief of survival, and the grief of those who died—left spiritual imprints that some believe contribute to the church's haunted reputation. The emotions experienced during these life-and-death moments were so powerful that they seem to have soaked into the very stones of the church.

The cemetery surrounding St. Paul's contains the remains of many of Key West's earliest and most prominent residents. The graves date back to the 1830s and include the founders, merchants, sea captains, military officers, and ordinary citizens who built Key West from a nearly uninhabited island into a thriving city.

Many of the tombstones are weathered and eroding, their inscriptions fading under the assault of tropical weather and salt air. Some graves have been disturbed over the years by hurricanes, construction, or simple neglect. The cemetery represents a cross-section of Key West history—every grave tells a story of someone who lived and died in this remote island outpost.

The cemetery's age and the number of souls buried there create a concentration of spiritual energy that many sensitives and paranormal investigators report feeling intensely. Walking among the graves, especially at dusk or night, visitors frequently report feeling watched, sensing presences moving among the tombstones, and experiencing the unsettling sensation of not being alone even when no living person is visible.

The most commonly reported spirits at St. Paul's are believed to be victims of the great hurricanes who sought refuge in the church. These spirits manifest primarily as sounds—the cries of children, the murmur of prayers, and occasionally the terrifying sound of wind and rain that seems to come from inside the building even on calm, clear days.

Church staff report that these phenomena are most common during hurricane season, as if the approaching storms trigger memories or residual energy from past disasters. On days when hurricanes threaten the Florida Keys, even if they ultimately turn away from Key West, the church experiences increased paranormal activity—footsteps running through the building as if people are fleeing to safety, voices calling out in panic, and the sound of furniture being moved as if families are barricading themselves inside.

These experiences are believed to be residual hauntings—recordings of past events that replay when conditions are similar to the original trauma. The intense fear and desperation of those seeking shelter from killer storms left such powerful emotional imprints that they continue to manifest over a century later.

Beyond the hurricane victims, St. Paul's is home to spirits of parishioners who loved the church so deeply in life that they seem unable or unwilling to leave it in death. These spirits are most often encountered during quiet moments when the church is empty—early morning before services, late evening after everyone has left, or during the week when the building stands vacant.

Church staff describe hearing footsteps walking up and down the main aisle as if someone is pacing in contemplation or prayer. The sound of the pews creaking is sometimes heard, as if invisible worshippers are taking their seats. Most movingly, the sound of hymns being sung has been reported when the church is known to be empty—not full voices, but the soft, reverent singing of people at prayer.

These spirits seem benign and even protective of the church. Nothing malevolent has been reported, and staff generally feel that these presences are simply continuing their devotions in the afterlife, finding in death the same comfort and meaning they found in the church during their lives.

The cemetery surrounding St. Paul's is a focus of paranormal activity separate from but related to the church itself. Visitors walking through the graveyard report seeing shadow figures moving among the tombstones, disappearing when approached or observed directly.

Photographs taken in the cemetery frequently show unexplained anomalies—orbs, mists, or occasionally what appear to be human figures that weren't visible to the photographer. EMF detectors register unusual readings near certain graves, particularly older ones or those belonging to people who died tragically or violently.

Some visitors report being touched or feeling unseen hands brush against them while walking through the cemetery. Others describe sudden temperature drops in specific locations, creating cold spots even in the tropical heat. These sensations are most common near the graves of children or young people who died before their time, suggesting these spirits may still be seeking comfort or attention.

John Fleming, the church's founder, may still watch over his creation. Visitors to his grave report feeling an intense sense of being observed, as if Fleming is taking measure of them. Some describe this sensation as stern but not hostile—more like a protective father figure assessing whether visitors mean his church any harm.

Inside the church, there have been reports of a distinguished-looking man in old-fashioned clothing appearing briefly before vanishing. Descriptions match historical depictions of Fleming, though witnesses usually don't recognize him until they later see his portrait or grave marker. This spirit, if it is indeed Fleming, seems to appear during important church events or when significant decisions about the church's future are being discussed, as if he's ensuring his vision is being honored.