Guardian Spirit: The Protected English Husband

This story happened in London, England in 1913. A vicar was leaving his church when an agitated lady approached him and told him a seriously ill man was nearby. 

She requested he accompany her because this man was very concerned for the state of his soul and needed a man of God. 

The clergyman went with her to a waiting taxicab, and the two were driven to a large stately house in Montpelier Square. The lady thanked him and stayed in the cab.

The vicar climbed the stairs to the door and knocked loudly. When the butler answered he confirmed that the man whom the lady had named did indeed live at the house. When the vicar explained the purpose for his visit the butler stated that his master was in good health and was not in need of a priest’s services. 

The vicar confused looked round for the lady who had accompanied him but she and the taxi were gone. The owner of the house appeared at the door and invited the confused vicar inside. 

The owner told him that his appearance was strange but fortunate because he had been troubled lately about the state of his soul and had been planning to visit the vicar’s church. The vicar listened as the owner of the house unburdened his conscience. The owner escorted him to the door stating he would attend the vicar’s church service the next day.

But the next morning the man failed to appear at either service so the concerned vicar returned to the house to check on the man. 

He again was met at the door by the butler who told him that his master had suddenly dropped dead just minutes after the vicar had left the previous evening. 

He was led to the room where the man’s body lay. As the vicar finished praying for the man’s soul he noticed a large portrait of the lady who had brought him to the house hanging on the wall.

When the butler returned he asked who the lady was. The butler told him that she was the master’s wife whom had died fifteen years earlier.

This story has been told in many variations since.