Do you believe in ghosts? Whether you do or not, Auburn University is the home of several supposedly haunted buildings. The Auburn University Chapel happens to be one of Alabama’s most haunted places.

The chapel was built back in 1851 as First Presbyterian Church of Auburn. Since then, it has served many different purposes. The chapel has served as a hospital for confederate soldiers during the Civil War, was temporarily divided into classrooms when the main building of the nearby Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College burned in 1887. It has also served as a theater for Auburn Players Theater, the college’s acting troupe from 1927 to 1973. Now it is a non-denominational, multi-purpose building.

Somewhere in the midst of the chapel’s history, it became haunted. It is supposedly haunted by Sydney Grimlett, a confederate soldier. The earliest reports of haunting began when the chapel served as a theater Grimlett would show up to all of the performances and wreak some kind of havoc. Colbi Williams, a student at Auburn University has heard of Grimlett’s haunting of the theater students.  “I heard that Sydney would slam doors and sometimes there would even be a piece of paper that would float through the crowd,” said Williams.

There are two stories behind why the ghost haunts the chapel. The first story is about how Sydney haunts the chapel because he is looking for his girlfriend thathe left behind. “One story is about a soldier who left his girlfriend when he went to war and when he came back he found that she had moved on and married someone else. So he haunts this chapel looking for his bride, “said Williams.
The other story is about a confederate soldier who died inside the chapel and ever since then he haunts it. “I have also heard that a confederate soldier was brought to the chapel and he had to have his leg amputated. He died and now he haunts the chapel,” said Williams.

The legend of the haunted chapel is very well known. Williams has heard several stories about the chapel. “ I have heard a lot of people talk about weird stuff happening inside the chapel that have made a lot of people weary about even going inside,” said Williams.

So what’s spooky about the chapel? There have been several spooky instances. It has been reported that when the chapel served as a theater Grimlett would open and close drawers. There have also been reports of a piano playing in the background. 

Williams has a friend who has experienced an odd event. “I have heard that there is something about the bathroom here. I hear it’s really creepy, I actually had some friends come and check this place out and they were just standing around asking questions. Well nothing happened until my friend went to the bathroom. They noticed he came out rather quickly and said they needed to go. He said nothing happened but he just got a really eerie feeling and got goose bumps when he went in there,” said Williams.

There have even been reports of sightings of Grimlett. Georgia Christian, a graduate from Auburn University said her mother has seen the ghost. “My mom was in the bathroom at the chapel and saw a ghostly foot in the stall next to her. She ran out and told someone about it and when they went in there and checked, there was no one there,” said Christian.

So if you believe in ghosts and you’re looking for a spine tingling experience this Halloween, you might want to check out the Auburn University Chapel.  Sydney will be there to scare you!