The Pointing Spirit

Among the most enigmatic paranormal phenomena at The Old Church House Inn is the manifestation known as ‘The Pointing Spirit’ - a disembodied arm that appears to guests and staff, invariably gesturing towards the adjacent Holy Trinity Church. This haunting represents one of the clearest examples of intelligent spiritual activity at the ancient inn, with its origins likely rooted in the building’s remarkable medieval history.

Historical Context and Origins

The Old Church House Inn’s connection to the church extends far beyond mere proximity. Built in the 13th century by the same craftsmen who constructed Holy Trinity Church, the inn originally served as what medieval chroniclers would have called a “hospitium” - a guest house providing hospitality to pilgrims, travellers, and the church community. This concept was fundamental to medieval Christian hospitality, as decreed by Emperor Charlemagne in the late 8th century, who ordered that “a hospital should be attached to each cathedral and monastery.”

The practice of establishing hospitiums alongside churches was widespread throughout medieval Europe. These institutions served multiple functions: providing shelter for pilgrims journeying to religious sites, offering refuge to the sick and poor, and maintaining the crucial bond between spiritual and charitable work. The fact that The Old Church House Inn was built by church masons and connected to Holy Trinity Church via a documented secret tunnel strongly suggests it functioned as such a hospitium.

The Manifestation

The Pointing Spirit appears as a spectral arm, usually visible from the elbow down, manifesting most frequently in Room 1 and other guest chambers. Witnesses consistently report that the apparition points steadily towards Holy Trinity Church, regardless of the viewer’s position within the inn. The arm appears solid enough to cast shadows but dissipates when approached directly.

What makes this haunting particularly compelling is its apparent intelligence and purpose. Unlike random spectral activity, the pointing gesture is deliberate and consistent, suggesting the spirit is attempting to communicate something specific about the relationship between the inn and the church.

Medieval Church-Inn Connections

The de Brianne family, who held the manor of Torbryan for over 250 years from the 13th century, were Norman nobles with strong religious connections. Sir Guy de Bryan, who first held the manor in 1242, would have been responsible for maintaining both the church and its associated hospitium. In medieval society, the provision of hospitality was considered a sacred duty, with the Bible’s injunction to “welcome strangers” taken literally by church authorities.

The secret tunnel connecting the inn to the church served practical purposes during this period. It allowed clergy to move safely between buildings during times of unrest, enabled the discreet transport of church treasures, and provided a direct route for pilgrims seeking sanctuary. This physical connection reinforced the spiritual bond between the two buildings.

The Phenomenon’s Significance

The consistent nature of the pointing suggests several possible explanations rooted in the building’s history:

Religious Duty: The spirit may represent a former innkeeper or church official who feels compelled to continue directing pilgrims and visitors towards the church, maintaining their sacred duty even in death.

Unfinished Business: The pointing could indicate something hidden or unresolved connected to the tunnel or church relationship - perhaps relating to the documented destruction of the original church by fire around 1360.

Spiritual Guidance: In medieval theology, the pointing gesture held profound significance, often representing divine guidance or the direction of prayer. The spirit may be perpetually indicating the proper direction for spiritual devotion.

Contemporary Accounts

The most documented encounter with The Pointing Spirit occurred in 1997, when a woman staying in Room 1 was yanked out of a deep sleep by a strange noise and bone-chilling cold that filled the room. When she was fully awake, a horrific sight met her eyes: the disembodied arm of a man was floating directly in front of her, pointing at the wall behind her. The bizarre vision lasted only a few moments, but it was enough for her to flee the room in terror.

This encounter is particularly significant because the pointing was directed toward the wall that faces Holy Trinity Church, consistent with all other reported sightings. Following this sighting, a bald-headed man was also seen walking slowly past the bed before disappearing, suggesting multiple spirits may be present in Room 1.

Modern witnesses describe experiencing a profound sense of purpose when encountering the Pointing Spirit, as if the apparition is urgently trying to convey important information. Some guests report feeling compelled to visit Holy Trinity Church after the encounter, suggesting the spirit’s directive nature remains as strong as ever.

The phenomenon appears most frequently during twilight hours and has been observed by guests with no prior knowledge of the inn’s history, lending credibility to the accounts. Staff members have noted that the pointing intensifies during periods when the church bells toll, as if responding to the call to worship that has echoed across Torbryan for over seven centuries.

This haunting represents more than mere spectral activity - it embodies the enduring spiritual connection between The Old Church House Inn and Holy Trinity Church, a bond forged in medieval stone and mortar that appears to transcend death itself.