Saint Mark’s Church in the Bowery, nestled in Manhattan’s East Village, is one of New York City’s oldest churches and is said to be one of its most haunted. Its eerie reputation stretches back to the 17th century, entwined with the legacy of Peter Stuyvesant, the last Dutch governor of New Amsterdam, who ruled from 1647 until the colony’s surrender to the English in 1664. To this day, Stuyvesant’s restless spirit is said to haunt the grounds, his presence a chilling echo of the past.
The church was built on land acquired by Peter Stuyvesant during his governorship and founded in 1660. Following his death in 1672, Stuyvesant was laid to rest beneath the church, and his presence has been sensed ever since. The original building was replaced in 1799 after a fire almost destroyed the church completely, yet reports of paranormal activity endured.
Stuyvesant’s ghost is perhaps the most renowned and active entity at St. Mark’s Church. Known as “Peg-Leg Pete” due to the loss of his leg in a sailing mishap, his apparition is often described as clad in traditional Dutch garments, hobbling through the church with his wooden leg. Witnesses frequently recount hearing disembodied footsteps reverberating through the halls, unmistakably those of someone with a peg leg.
One of the most infamous incidents involving Stuyvesant’s ghost took place in 1865, when he is said to have rung the church bell despite no one being inside at the time. The sexton claimed he was pursued by Stuyvesant’s ghost before townsfolk arrived to investigate. Upon entering, they found the bell rope had been severed at a height no human could reach, with a piece of it resting atop Stuyvesant’s crypt. This event solidified his reputation as a mischievous spirit unwilling to rest in peace.
Stuyvesant is also notorious for disrupting services at the church. He has been heard speaking over sermons or singing hymns in Dutch, often off-key, much to the dismay of the congregation. His distinctive peg-legged steps have startled worshippers for generations, establishing him as a disruptive yet iconic presence within the church. Additionally, some accounts note that Stuyvesant’s spirit has been sensed near the family vault beneath the church.
In addition to Stuyvesant’s ghost, another apparition frequently sighted at St. Mark’s Church is that of a mysterious woman dressed in period clothing with wide skirts. She has been spotted near the rear entrance of the church and on the balcony overlooking the pews during services. Her identity remains a mystery, but she is regarded as a less intrusive presence compared to Stuyvesant.
The church has long been associated with other unexplained phenomena as well. Visitors have reported seeing shadowy figures moving across windows and hallways when no one else was present. Certain areas within the church are said to emit an unnatural coldness, accompanied by eerie sensations and unexplained sounds such as banging or footsteps. Ghostly singing has also been reported on occasion; one notable incident occurred on Christmas Day in 1995, when congregants heard someone singing an old sailor’s tune about rum. Upon investigation, they saw a figure dressed in Dutch attire with a peg leg vanish into a wall.
Psychics have visited St. Mark’s Church over the years and corroborated many of these accounts with their own experiences. One psychic claimed to sense Peter Stuyvesant walking down the aisle with his cane and saw a white shape floating near his crypt slab. Another reported seeing an apparition of a woman near the back door, wearing wide skirts similar to those described by other witnesses. Furthermore, the church has been a point of interest for paranormal enthusiasts, and while formal investigations have taken place, specific findings such as electronic voice phenomena recordings or unusual electromagnetic field readings have not been widely documented in public records.
Even today, visitors continue to share stories of paranormal activity at St. Mark’s Church. A writer residing in one of the rented rooms within the rectory reported her dog refusing to enter certain spaces unless accompanied by her, and she also witnessed unexplained shadows despite being alone in her quarters.
A foreman who worked at the church, tasked with winding its clock, claimed multiple encounters with apparitions, including both male and female figures, alongside mysterious noises and sensations that defied explanation. Some historical accounts suggest that the church’s graveyard, contains over 1,000 burials, which may contribute to the overall sense of unease, as visitors have occasionally reported feeling watched or hearing faint whispers near the graves.
