Jenna took a deep breath as she approached Oakwood Road Methodist Church.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come in with you?" Reverend Morris asked.
She patted his shoulder. "I'll be fine Simon. You don't need to worry. It's the ghost of John Wesley, not Jack the Ripper. This is exciting! I hope he'll appear!"
"Right...well, I'll be sat in the car then. I hope you won't be too long. Remember, just turn and run the moment you feel in any way uncomfortable."
"Reverend Morris, I think you're scared!"
"No I'm not! I can't help being concerned for the safety of the woman I love can I? Aren't you a tiny bit nervous?"
"I'm as cool as spring water," Jenna replied. "I was reading all about John Wesley last night. He was a true gentleman. I'm sure this won't take long."
Reverend Morris nodded as he watched his wife enter the church. "Well if anyone can fix this, Jenna can. I don't know what she said to the Archbishop of Canterbury last week, but he changed his mind about the wall plaque faster than the Government does U-turns. I wonder what she said to him? Whatever it was, Justin Welby was impressed!"
He reclined in his car seat. "I was so lucky to meet Jenna. Of course, it was God who delivered her to me. That fateful Sunday morning in the vestry...ohh."
Father Aiden was walking along the street. Many things were on his mind. He had some important decisions to make about his future in the priesthood. Briefly glancing up from his smartphone, his heart jumped as he spotted Jenna entering the Methodist church across the road.
"Holy Mother..." he muttered. A rush of excitement swept over him as he recalled the intimate encounter he'd enjoyed a few weeks ago. It was that which had spurred him to think about his future. He quickly crossed the road.
"Hello Father!"
The priest almost dropped his phone. Someone was shouting at him from a parked car.
"Oh...Reverend Morris. Hello there." Damn, no chance of a repeat encounter, he thought. "I've just seen your wife going into the Methodist church."
"Yes, I hope she won't be long. I'm just waiting for her."
"Are you alright? You look a bit anxious, if you don't mind me saying."
"It's a long story, Father. I think you'd better sit down in the passenger seat and I'll tell you. You've not heard about what's been going on in Oakwood Road church have you?"
The priest looked confused. "Nope. Tell me more!" He opened the car door and sat down. I could do to unburden myself too."
"Okay, well, this might sound a bit weird."
"I can handle anything weird," Father Aiden replied.
"It's about ghosts. As a Catholic, what are your thoughts on them and have you ever seen one?"
Father Aiden thought about his answer very carefully. "Hmm. In theory, billions of ghosts potentially exist because billions of human beings have "lost" their bodies through death. Strictly speaking, these disembodied souls are not ghosts because they have never become discernible to any living people. Only those few souls whose presence is seen or felt by others are truly ghosts. And their existence is real."
"So you've seen one?"
"Yes. Two actually. Once in Ireland when I was a child and another when I was based in Liverpool. I was called upon to rid a family's home of a troubled spirit."
Reverend Morris looked relieved. "That's good to know."
"The Old Testament also has a few ghost stories. The most famous one is in 1 Samuel 28:8--20. Here the inspired writer tells how King Saul met with the ghost of the prophet Samuel." Father Aiden replied. "Have you seen a ghost?"
"Yes. And not just any ghost, but the ghost of John Wesley! He's haunting the Methodist church. That's why I'm here. Jenna's gone in there to try and help him return to...the other side."
"Oh I see, then she must...wait, WHAT?" Father Aiden did a double take.
"Thanks for comin' along Mrs Morris," Reverend Ewing said, shaking Jenna's hand. "I know you probably think this whole thing is crazy."
"Not at all! And call me Jenna. I'm a true believer. If my husband says that you and he saw John Wesley, then I know it's true. But why does John want to see me of all people?"
"Your hubby mentioned that your grandma is a Methodist?"
"Uh yeah. Bit of a tenuous link. Like Sir Henry Barrington-Smythe's horse."
"Huh?"
"Oh, never mind. Figure of speech."
"You Brits and your little quirks!" Reverend Ewing laughed. "I'm still getting used to 'em!"
"You said John usually appears in the vestry?"
"Uh-huh. Can be anywhere in the church, but he seems to like the vestry best."
"Right, well go and wait in there and say a few prayers, and see if he appears. I'm not sure I can do anything, but I'll try my best."
Jenna entered the vestry. Everything looked perfectly normal in there. She closed the door and looked around.
"It always comes back to the vestry," she smiled to herself as she recalled when she first got to know Reverend Morris.
Suddenly, the row of gowns on the rail began to swing on their hangers. The temperature dropped, and Jenna rubbed her arms.
"Are you there, John?" She called out.
"Yes."
She spun round. There was no sign of the spirit. "Hey, come on, show yourself at least. It's no fun talking to the invisible man."
"My sincere apologies," John replied, and slowly faded into view. For the first time, Jenna was taken aback. "My God...you really ARE John Wesley..."
He nodded and bowed. "Bless ye, for am so honoured you hath come here. If I may be so bold to say, you be a lady of great beauty my dear."
"Very kind of you to say, Mr Wesley." Jenna said. "Why are you back in the land of the living? Aren't you happy in Heaven?"