An Episode of Cathedral History details the events that follow the restoration work on a grand old cathedral. During the process, workers discover a large, ancient, and unnervingly plain stone chest sealed into the wall, which is quickly moved and stored in the Chapter House. When the chest begins to emit unsettling noises and strange scratching sounds, the scholarly officials realise they have inadvertently freed a terrifying presence that was sealed away centuries ago. The mystery deepens as they find a horrifying link to the cathedral's dark past and a creature that demands to be fed.
From the mind of M. R. James, the acknowledged master who redefined the ghost story for the 20th century and founded the 'antiquarian ghost story' genre, comes a chilling tale where the quiet history of a cathedral conceals a monstrous secret.
This story is a quintessential example of James' genius for combining creeping dread with ecclesiastical settings, making it essential reading for fans of classic ghost stories and supernatural fiction, and proving that some aspects of history were deliberately and terrifyingly locked away.