Blythburgh Church - Black Shuck Attack
The Cathedral of the Marshes bears scorch marks from the legendary 1577 Black Shuck attack, and the demonic hound's presence still haunts the area.
Holy Trinity Church in Blythburgh, known as the “Cathedral of the Marshes,” is a magnificent 15th-century church that was the site of one of England’s most dramatic paranormal events. On August 4, 1577, during a violent thunderstorm, the legendary Black Shuck—a demonic spectral hound—allegedly burst into the church during a service. According to contemporary accounts, the beast ran down the aisle, killing two parishioners and causing the church tower to collapse. Scorch marks on the church door, still visible today, are attributed to the demon dog’s claws. This event was recorded in a pamphlet titled “A Straunge and Terrible Wunder” and has become one of the most famous supernatural incidents in English history.
The church continues to be a site of paranormal activity centered on Black Shuck and the trauma of that August day in 1577. Visitors and locals report seeing a massive black dog with glowing red eyes in the church and surrounding marshland, particularly during storms. The apparition moves with unnatural speed and radiates an aura of dread and malevolence. Some witnesses describe the creature as semi-transparent, while others insist it appears completely solid before vanishing. The sound of heavy paws running on stone, deep growling, and the smell of sulfur or burning are reported inside the church, even on calm, clear days.
Beyond the Black Shuck phenomena, the church experiences other supernatural activity. During thunderstorms, witnesses report hearing the screams and chaos of the 1577 attack echoing through the building, as if the event is replaying itself. The scorch marks on the door radiate an unusual energy that sensitive visitors find disturbing. Cold spots manifest near where the two victims allegedly died, and some people report seeing the apparitions of terrified parishioners fleeing an invisible threat. The church’s beautiful interior, with its magnificent angels on the ceiling, contrasts sharply with the dark legend that surrounds it. Paranormal investigators have recorded electromagnetic anomalies near the door scorch marks, EVPs of growling and human screams, and photographs showing shadowy canine shapes. Black Shuck legends are widespread across East Anglia, but Blythburgh’s documented historical account and physical evidence make it the most compelling and actively haunted site associated with England’s most famous demon dog.