WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:05.700 Whether it be a magnificent cathedral or merely a frame shack, a house of prayer is invariably 00:05.700 --> 00:09.040 vested with an air of otherworldliness. 00:09.040 --> 00:13.220 Perhaps it is because of this fact that one is never too surprised to learn of strange 00:13.220 --> 00:18.440 and incredible events which occur within the confines of the Church, and as evidence that 00:18.440 --> 00:25.660 such events do occur, witness the curious case of the organist at Avonbury. 00:25.660 --> 00:31.200 It was a simple house of worship, this Avonbury Church in Herfordshire, England, and its vicar 00:31.200 --> 00:33.320 was a simple man. 00:33.320 --> 00:38.000 For twenty years he attended the spiritual needs of the community, and it is greatly 00:38.000 --> 00:42.560 to be doubted whether anything really remarkable had ever happened to him. 00:42.560 --> 00:47.160 Not at least until a certain autumn night in the year 1919, when the vicar was making 00:47.160 --> 00:50.160 his way home after a condolence call on a bereaved widow. 00:50.160 --> 00:54.000 He could see the white church spire gleaming in the moonlight. 00:54.000 --> 00:57.280 Hello, that's strange. 00:57.280 --> 01:00.240 Now who could be playing the organ at this hour? 01:00.240 --> 01:04.440 The church had been locked at seven o'clock that evening, and now it was almost twelve, 01:04.440 --> 01:07.800 and yet someone was inside playing the organ. 01:07.800 --> 01:09.680 It must be Emily Willingham. 01:09.680 --> 01:14.240 The vicar approached the church and climbed the wooden steps and tried the door. 01:14.240 --> 01:16.640 It was still locked. 01:16.640 --> 01:20.040 He stood there groping in his pocket for the key. 01:20.040 --> 01:24.880 The music stopped. 01:24.880 --> 01:27.880 Miss Willingham? 01:27.880 --> 01:31.120 Emily Willingham, are you there? 01:31.120 --> 01:36.120 The vicar switched on the light and glanced slowly around, but the church was empty, and 01:36.120 --> 01:39.560 the front door was the only door to the church. 01:39.560 --> 01:45.280 It was not until evening of the following day that the vicar found time to visit Miss 01:45.280 --> 01:48.560 Willingham, and he wanted to know how she had managed to leave the church. 01:48.560 --> 01:51.040 I was never in it, not last night. 01:51.040 --> 01:54.040 But just at midnight, Miss Willingham, I distinctly heard something. 01:54.040 --> 01:55.920 Never you may have heard, my dear vicar. 01:55.920 --> 01:57.320 It was not I. 01:57.320 --> 02:00.000 I was in my bed at twelve o'clock last night. 02:00.000 --> 02:01.800 Have you spoken to Mr. Rumley? 02:01.800 --> 02:03.560 Rumley, the section? 02:03.560 --> 02:06.120 He has a key to the church, has he not? 02:06.120 --> 02:10.160 If anyone would know a way of leaving the church unnoticed, I'm sure it would be he. 02:10.160 --> 02:14.480 And while he has never confessed to having musical talent, I'm certain he would be happy 02:14.480 --> 02:18.600 to improve his position by taking my duties as organist away from me. 02:18.600 --> 02:20.280 I shall speak to him at once. 02:20.280 --> 02:22.480 And soon, my dear vicar, shall I. 02:22.480 --> 02:31.560 Dusk had fallen when the vicar and Emily Willingham reached the little cottage just behind the 02:31.560 --> 02:32.560 church. 02:32.560 --> 02:34.560 I'm glad you've come, vicar. 02:34.560 --> 02:36.560 I've been wanting to talk to you all day. 02:36.560 --> 02:38.760 I'm registering a complaint against her. 02:38.760 --> 02:39.760 Against me? 02:39.760 --> 02:40.760 Aye. 02:40.760 --> 02:43.760 I've got no objection to you playing the organ any time you like. 02:43.760 --> 02:44.760 Only not at midnight. 02:44.760 --> 02:45.760 My, your father's a very good... 02:45.760 --> 02:46.760 I heard her, vicar. 02:46.760 --> 02:49.480 I heard her in the middle of the night, it was. 02:49.480 --> 02:51.680 The organ bleating out like a Sunday morning. 02:51.680 --> 02:55.040 He's simply trying to avoid suspicion from himself, vicar. 02:55.040 --> 02:59.000 To know perfectly well, Mr. Rumley, that it was you who played in the church last night. 02:59.000 --> 03:00.000 Me? 03:00.000 --> 03:02.680 I never touched a blasted instrument in me life. 03:02.680 --> 03:05.720 Obviously it was one of the two of you. 03:05.720 --> 03:09.160 We three are the only ones who could have got into the church. 03:09.160 --> 03:11.120 No one else has a key. 03:11.120 --> 03:12.520 And I'm quite certain that I... 03:12.520 --> 03:13.520 What have you... 03:13.520 --> 03:14.520 Listen, Rumley. 03:14.520 --> 03:15.520 There it is again. 03:15.520 --> 03:16.520 But... but isn't the church locked? 03:16.520 --> 03:17.520 No. 03:17.520 --> 03:18.520 Oye, vicar. 03:18.520 --> 03:19.520 I knocked it myself half hour ago. 03:19.520 --> 03:20.520 And there wasn't a living soul in there when I did. 03:20.520 --> 03:21.520 The three of them hastened to the church. 03:21.520 --> 03:22.520 But before they reached it, the music stopped. 03:22.520 --> 03:23.520 And they found no one. 03:23.520 --> 03:40.520 Who he was, and how he gained entrance into the church, and how he left without being observed. 03:40.520 --> 03:42.520 All of these remain a mystery. 03:42.520 --> 03:45.520 A mystery incredible but true.