Drive-By
Exterior Architecture Visit
View William Appleton Potter's 1888 Gothic Revival brick church and its distinctive tower from Carroll Street. The congregation's roots trace to 1773.
- Duration:
- 20 min
Photo coming soon
Other Dark Tourism Site
Christ Episcopal Church
An 1888 Gothic Revival church built on Poughkeepsie's old English Burial Ground, long said to be haunted by Rev. Alexander Cummings, its rector of 48 years, whose ghost was reportedly seen by his successor Bishop James Pike.
20 Carroll Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 4sources
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Active Episcopal parish. Visitors welcome at services and during posted hours; respect worship activities.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Urban sidewalk; church entrance
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1888 · Congregation founded 1773; current building completed 1888 · Designed by noted architect William Appleton Potter · Built atop Poughkeepsie's old English Burial Ground · Early pastorate of Bishop James A. Pike (1947-1949)
Christ Episcopal Church traces its origins as a place of worship in Poughkeepsie to 1773. As the congregation grew, it sold its earlier 1833 church and purchased a new property to build a larger brick structure. The site chosen had traditionally been known as the old English Burial Ground; those interred there were reportedly relocated to the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery before construction.
The congregation engaged architect William Appleton Potter to design the new church, and the building was completed in May 1888. The following year, the first parish house was built and the church's distinctive tower, which still marks the downtown skyline, was added.
One of the parish's most notable figures was the Rev. Alexander Griswold Cummings, who served as rector for 48 years, from 1900 until 1948. After Cummings's death in 1948, the young Rev. James A. Pike was appointed rector of Christ Church, serving from 1947 to 1949 while also acting as chaplain to students at nearby Vassar College. Pike went on to become Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and later the controversial Episcopal Bishop of California, known for his liberal theology and, late in life, his interest in spiritualism.
Christ Episcopal remains an active Episcopal parish and a longstanding institution in the City of Poughkeepsie.
Sources
- https://www.christchurchpok.org/
- https://poklib.org/christ-church-poughkeepsie/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Pike
- https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/pike-james-albert/
Apparition of Rev. Alexander Cummings on the bell-tower stairs and near the altarCandles blown out without explanationMoving objects and self-swinging doorsUnexplained cold in the former rector's officeA materializing-and-vanishing batApparition of an elderly woman seated in a pew
The central haunting at Christ Episcopal Church is attributed to the Rev. Alexander Griswold Cummings, who served as rector for nearly half a century. According to widely repeated local lore, sightings of Cummings began shortly after his death in 1948. His successor, the Rev. James Pike, who became rector in 1947 and is later famous as the controversial Bishop of California, is said to have seen a clear apparition of Cummings ascending the bell-tower steps and lingering near the altar (New York Haunted Houses; Poughkeepsie Public Library District; WRRV).
In life, Cummings reportedly disliked candles, and lore holds that candles used during services were repeatedly snuffed out; overhead objects were said to move, doors to swing on their own, and unexplained sounds to echo through the church. One account describes a bat that materialized inside the church and then vanished. Lore says the activity quieted for years and only resurfaced after a 1990s rector moved the rector's office to a new part of the building, converting the old office into a library, which was then reportedly left unusually cold in the mornings (New York Haunted Houses).
The church is also said to host other spirits, including an elderly woman in Sunday dress who is seen seated in a pew about halfway back, and a disembodied face reported floating in the air. These traditions appear in regional haunted-Hudson-Valley coverage but, beyond the documented Cummings-Pike connection, rest largely on local storytelling.
Note: The Shadowlands seed for this site garbled the timeline (placing Pike in the 1970s); the corroborated record places Cummings's rectorship at 1900-1948 and Pike's at 1947-1949, a sequence confirmed by church history, the Poughkeepsie Public Library District, and biographies of James Pike.
Notable Entities
Rev. Alexander Griswold Cummings (rector 1900-1948)
Plan Your Visit
1 way to experienceSources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Christ Episcopal Church family-friendly?
An active, welcoming church with gentle ghost lore centered on a long-serving rector. No gore or scares; suitable for respectful family visits during open hours. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Christ Episcopal Church?
Active Episcopal parish. Visitors welcome at services and during posted hours; respect worship activities. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Christ Episcopal Church wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Christ Episcopal Church is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Urban sidewalk; church entrance.