St. John's Church is located in Hampton Virgina. It is the the oldest active Episcopal congregation in the US. The location in downtown Hampton is the fourth and final location of this parish. The church has been located on three different sites in Hampton. The original parish began in 1610. The final location was established in 1728. From what I understand the original congregation moved from Jamestown Virgina to escape famine. The Hampton Roads area offered the settlers from Jamestown healthy fields to grow their crops. As an added bonus, the settlers were able to have an amicable relationship/friendship with the Kecoughtan Indians that inhabited this area.
When I was the assistant director of the Ghost Research Society of Tidewater Virginia, the director and myself chose to investigate this location on many occasions. We were not able to ever enter the actual church, but there is a very large cemetery around it. We always visited this location during posted visitor hours. We were never able to pickup any EVP's or images, but we were both always able to pick up energy. This particular cemetery has a lot of activity. Every time I have visited this location since the first investigation I have picked up "something."
While I was home visiting during the holiday season 2008. I had the opportunity to visit the graveyard there at St John's Church. It was a cold and dreary day in Hampton. Those are the best days in my opinion to do an investigation. I entered the church from the side gate next to the parking lot. The time was about 2:00pm in the afternoon. As soon as I entered I could sense something in the graveyard. I decided to start in the front of the church where the oldest graves are located. The oldest grave in the cemetery belongs to Captain Willis Wilson who died and was buried there in 1701. The second item of interest in the graveyard located around the corner near the south wall is a memorial to Virgina Laydon. She was the first surviving child born to English parents in the "new world". Virginia's parents were also members of St John's parish. So I followed this path around the graveyard. The energy that I was picking up moved around the cemetery. With this I began taking many photographs. While doing this I took photos of the many beautiful headstones located in the cemetery. I believe I spent a good hour and a half there walking around and enjoying the atmosphere.
Once I had completed my visit to the cemetery I wrapped things up and went home. I went through many images, but unfortunately was unable to pick up anything paranormal in nature. There has never been any stories about this location being haunted, but with all the history that has manifested in the city of Hampton, I was sure "something" might still be lurking around. Along with Hampton being burned down, the church had also experienced affliction from the British during the Revolutionary and War of 1812.
If you are ever in the Hampton Roads area. Please take the time to visit this magnificent historical landmark. It makes me proud to be a Virginian.
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