Nashville, Tennessee's St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows may look like your typical Catholic Church, that is, until you look past the surface. When a long-deceased yet perfectly-preserved body was found buried under the altar, it was declared saintly. But given the terrifying events in the church, we can't help but wonder, is this a saint or a scoundrel?
Did you know?
- Built in 1845, St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows is the oldest standing church in the city.
- A former member of the church roams the sanctuary in the afterlife. There are a few theories, but no one really knows who the culprit is.
- St. Mary's was built by Adolphus Heiman, a German architect recognized for constructing the Nashville Asylum for the Insane and the Belmont Mansion, which is also a haunted location.
Undead Beneath St. Mary's
The simple 19th-century sanctuary houses the body of the man who drove its construction, Maryland-born clergyman Richard Pius Miles.
After he was appointed first bishop of the diocese of Nashville in 1837, Miles began establishing schools, orphanages, and hospitals to accommodate the growing Catholic community.
In 1844, a few years after he arrived in Tennessee, he founded St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows and other Catholic churches throughout the state.
Miles died in 1860 and was subsequently buried underneath the St. Mary's altar, which was not uncommon according to Christian tradition. What was uncommon was the chilling discovery made when his casket was opened over a century later.
In 1972, while the church was undergoing extensive renovations, Miles' cast-iron casket was found. Inside, was the undecayed body of the late bishop. His skin was still pinkish and supple. His muscles were relaxed, as if in a deep, undisturbed slumber.
The corpse had laid "incorrupt" for 112 years.
To the church, this was a sign of saintliness, so a petition to have him canonized was submitted to the Vatican. The sacred body was then reinterred within a decorated tomb in a small chapel behind St. Mary's.
But why would a saint haunt the church?
Ghosts Come A-Knockin'
Several decades before the bishop's body was discovered, in 1926, renovations uncovered another secret within the church: its ghosts. And they were experienced by members of the clergy.
Perhaps the most famous paranormal legend of St. Mary is Monsignor John Morgan's early morning encounter. Monsignor Morgan claimed that while he slept in his quarters, he was woken up by someone pounding on his door. Thinking it was a pressing manner, he managed to drag himself out of bed and answer. He opened the door and looked everywhere, but there was no one there.
He didn't think much of it and returned to bed. Once again, he fell asleep, only to be woken up a second time by the same urgent knocking. However, this time, it wasn't coming from the door; it was coming from the headboard above him.
Despite jumping out of bed to investigate, he was never able to find the source.
Who Haunts St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows?
Over the years, locals have turned to history to explain the hauntings in this location. A few theories have emerged from this effort.
During the American Civil War (1861-1865), Nashville was an active battle site. This led a vast majority of the existing buildings to be turned into hospitals and morgues to service wounded soldiers.
A Confederate Priest?
St. Mary was no different. It served as a hospital during the war, and reportedly over 300 people lost their lives while undergoing treatment in the building. Legend has it that a Catholic priest serving in the Confederate Army was brought to the church after being shot. He was, unfortunately, unable to recover and died.
Due to its time as a hospital, many believe that whoever is walking the Lord's house in the afterlife, died there during the war. The Confederate priest is a particular suspect, due to his vocation.
And Another Priest
Another priest, who allegedly died in a fatal accident during the church's construction, has been identified as the possible ghost. This is highly unlikely, though. An accident like this would've definitely made it to the papers. But after scouring the newspapers of the time, no records of such a death were found.
The Bishop
Most people dismiss the previous theories, claiming there is one unmistakable spirit lurking in the dark, Bishop Miles. After all, he's buried in the church.
To this day, the spirit of Bishop Miles is blamed for any mishap. When the church's automated bell fails to chime on the hour, locals take it as Miles making his presence known.
St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows, where faithful spirits continue their eternal worship
