In this episode of The Parsonage Files, Dale—the retired custodian with a flashlight and a sense of humor—asks Rob and Rick what they’d say if a single photograph could prove a ghost is real, then guides viewers through the strange history of spirit photography (from Mumler to modern skeptics), famous cases like the Brown Lady and the Chinnery car photo, and the grief-forged origins and Gothic beauty of the Church of Christ the Consoler, where Rev. Kenneth F. Lord’s 1963 “Newby Spectre” was captured. Along the way, Dale weighs believers’ theories against camera quirks and cold drafts, offers a simple test for mystery (check the steps, check the camera, check your fear, then listen), and hands the question back to Rob and Rick to close the story.

References

Brown Lady of Raynham Hall. (n.d.). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Lady_o...

English Heritage. (n.d.). The Dilessi Massacre and a Gothic Revival Masterpiece (St Mary’s, Studley Royal). https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/...

Erinna, G. (2013, September 13). Real or fake? Mysterious ghost pictures investigated. News.com.au. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-lif...

Ripon Civic Society. (2018, May 3). Frederick Vyner – A noble Englishman murdered by brigands. https://riponcivicsociety.org.uk/2018/05/0...

Church of Christ the Consoler. (n.d.). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Ch...

Spectre of Newby Church. (n.d.). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectre_of_N...

Spirit photography. (n.d.). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_photo...

“1959, March 22: Mabel Chinnery’s Strange Photograph.” (n.d.). AnomalyInfo. https://anomalyinfo.com/Stories/1959-mabel...

In this episode of The Parsonage Files, Dale shares one of the Bible’s strangest and funniest stories—the day a donkey outsmarted a prophet. Hired to curse Israel for a big payday, Balaam sets off on a reckless journey, blind to the danger ahead. But his donkey sees what he can’t: an angel with a sword blocking the road. What follows is a mix of comedy, confrontation, and a talking animal with more sense than her master. Beneath the humor lies a sharp lesson about pride, greed, and learning to hear God’s warnings—even when they come from the most unexpected places. You’ll find it all in Numbers 22:21–39.

In this episode of The Parsonage Files, Rick and Rob hear one of the custodian’s favorite stories—the mystery of the Miraculous Staircase. Long ago, in Santa Fe’s Loretto Chapel, the nuns had a big problem: their choir loft was 22 feet in the air, and no one could build stairs to reach it. Then a quiet stranger showed up with only a donkey and a toolbox. When he finished, he left behind a spiral staircase that twists like magic. It has no center pole, no nails, and 33 steps. Some say it’s a miracle. Others think it was just the work of a brilliant carpenter. Either way, this strange story still leaves people amazed today.

Produced by: Groveport United Methodist Churchwww.groveportumc.org

The Ghost and Mr. Wesley | The Parsonage Files PodcastWhat happens when the father of Methodism’s founder decides to pick a fight with a ghost?In 1716, Reverend Samuel Wesley shouted into the dark: “Thou deaf and dumb devil… come to me! I am a man!”The spirit answered.Doors slammed. Chains rattled. The family dog howled in fear. And the Wesley children—one of them the future John Wesley—grew up in the middle of one of England’s most famous hauntings.Was it a restless ghost? A poltergeist? Or something darker? In this episode, the Birk Twins take you inside the Epworth Rectory and the terrifying legend of Old Jeffrey. If you like ghosts, history, and the strange crossroads of faith and the paranormal—this one’s for you.#GhostStories #HauntedHistory #Methodism #Podcast #TheParsonageFiles

The Ghost and Mr. Wesley | The Parsonage Files Podcast

What happens when the father of Methodism’s founder decides to pick a fight with a ghost?

In 1716, Reverend Samuel Wesley shouted into the dark: “Thou deaf and dumb devil… come to me! I am a man!”
The spirit answered.

Doors slammed. Chains rattled. The family dog howled in fear. And the Wesley children—one of them the future John Wesley—grew up in the middle of one of England’s most famous hauntings.

Was it a restless ghost? A poltergeist? Or something darker? In this episode, the Birk Twins take you inside the Epworth Rectory and the terrifying legend of Old Jeffrey.

If you like ghosts, history, and the strange crossroads of faith and the paranormal—this one’s for you.

New episodes every Wednesday starting September 10

#GhostStories #HauntedHistory #Methodism #Podcast #TheParsonageFiles

The Ghost and Mr. Wesley | The Parsonage Files Podcast

What happens when the father of Methodism’s founder decides to pick a fight with a ghost?

In 1716, Reverend Samuel Wesley shouted into the dark: “Thou deaf and dumb devil… come to me! I am a man!”
The spirit answered.

Doors slammed. Chains rattled. The family dog howled in fear. And the Wesley children—one of them the future John Wesley—grew up in the middle of one of England’s most famous hauntings.

Was it a restless ghost? A poltergeist? Or something darker? In this episode, the Birk Twins take you inside the Epworth Rectory and the terrifying legend of Old Jeffrey.

If you like ghosts, history, and the strange crossroads of faith and the paranormal—this one’s for you.

New Episodes Every Wednesday Starting September 10

#GhostStories #HauntedHistory #Methodism #Podcast #TheParsonageFiles