An Episode of Cathedral History by M. R. James

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[@carolmikolj5134]

An excellent reading of my favourite M R James story. Many Thanks!!

[@catherinedoyle1194]

Love this one

[@ripleypipe]

What a joy Cornelius. With your distinct timbre and convincing characterisations, for me it was like hearing this memorable tale for the first time.

[@catherinedoyle1194]

I love m r James ghost... stories and praise this storytelling as the best of the best ..

[@catherinedoyle1194]

Totally in love with you he narrators voice

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Great ! An M R James story which Mark Gatiss hasn't managed to ruin..!

[@catherinedoyle1194]

I live for these James ghost stories x he still brings great joy to us serious ghost stories fans❤️

[@CrowSkeleton]

Oh, what a marvellous reading of this story!

[@katyvdb5993]

15:09 '...especially during the sermon, when they found it helpful, they said, to listen in a posture which was liable to misconstruction...' Has there ever been a ghost story writer with such a talent for dry, understated humour slipped into the middle to the story? Wonderful! Thank you for uploading.

[@artmoss6889]

I greatly enjoyed that sly bit of humour, and as a someone who has sang in several church choirs, I can say I understood exactly how they felt.

[@shahabhussain5120]

Ha yeah brilliant. Only other author capable of such subtlety I’ve found is EF Benson….

[@katyvdb5993]

@@shahabhussain5120 I quite agree that E F Benson wrote some chilling ghost stories (and at least one tender one, 'How Fear Departed from the Long Gallery). He also wrote wickedly funny novels - the 'Lucia' series being perennial favourites. I'm not sure that he ever added comic counterpoint to his terrifying stories as M R James did, but if he did I am happy to learn?

[@JonniePolyester]

This is an absolute treasure ( forgive the pun!😅) just listening to it here sat in a Victorian house, on a wet & cold autumn Saturday afternoon with a small black cat curled up next to me. KZbin is invaluable, we would never find such treats so easily I feel. Great post 😊👍

[@Kernowcornwall]

One of MRs best, which oddly I don't believe has been dramatized and should be. MRs distinctive narrative device of mostly suggesting the supernatural and the evil, rather than directly presenting it, is on full display here.

[@luvuforeverjames]

I live in a town called southminster, but doubt it's one and the same as in this story. Love all these creepy ghostly tales....right up my street!

[@2msvalkyrie529]

I didn't think anyone could match Sir Michael Hordern as narrator of M R James' ghostly tales. I'm delighted to say that I was wrong ! Well done Mr Garrett !

[@richstrange6170]

I love Horden too. He's my favourite.

[@debjuch1747]

Try Simon Stanhope, Bite sized Audio.

[@waningmooncancer9628]

​@Deb Juch isn't he awesome? Encrypted classic horror is a treat, too. The narrator is Jasper L'Estrange; he's English with a breathy, slightly nasal voice. With the stories he tells, it's thoroughly creepy. He's taken time off from his channel, but there is quite a few for you to enjoy.

[@appalachianamerican7171]

Can't get enough M.R. James

[@suzannemoodhe927]

What a reading!!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉thank you Cornelius ❤

[@GeorgeBletchly]

Very good. I'm not a snob but I do like to hear MR James read with a posh British accent.

[@samsum3738]

M R James never disappoints .

[@richstrange6170]

MR James is unbeatable and Corny G, reads them so well, so naturally.

[@wmnoffaith1]

Very nicely done!!! I am well prepared to listen to anyone's narration of M.R. James provided he has a British accent and the excellent diction which you possess to such a strong degree. Subscribed! It's always found treasure to discover a channel with a narrator who can read and embody the characters so realistically. Thank you!

[@Shineon83]

“British” accent?….There is no such thing. “British” English IS proper English (though there are most certainly Irish, Scottish, Welsh, American, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand “accents”)….

[@EP-yd7vz]

Brilliant, thank you! Wonderful accents and dialects.

[@mjrchapin]

Just happened across this and so glad I did! Very strange vampire! Excellent narration!

[@polr6311]

Beautiful reading. Thank you!

[@robertmiller6467]

Great narration, sir. Would it not have been extraordinary to have been present at one of those Christmas concerts when M.R. himself presented his tales?

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

Excellent! I have not heard this reader before, but he is very good. Many thanks for the upload.

[@catherinedoyle1194]

I agree, he has a good narrators voice .

[@susanbeesley8299]

Such an unsettling story brilliantly narrated xx

[@catherinedoyle1194]

Sell said

[@galerius61]

My absolute favourite tale by M.R.James, the second being The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral.

[@kateking3953]

Mine too! And Barchester, and I'm very fond of View from a Hill.

[@galerius61]

@@kateking3953 Another favorite is The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance :)

[@cathydoyle8804]

So agree with you!

[@Girlgamssilver]

That's my favorite too. Also Casting the Runes. Check out bbc radio the hex

[@EmlynBoyle]

My favorite MRJ story. I enjoyed this reading!

[@Lauranna]

My dad’s favourite ghost story and my introduction into the world of M.R James! He’s still waiting for someone to make a half decent tv adaption of it.

[@EmlynBoyle]

Ditto! I wish the BBC would make a Christmas adaption.

[@bradhogue2029]

This one may be my favorite as well. I don't know why we don't have many adaptations of James' work.

[@johnhindes9020]

this great narration is equal to the works of the wonderful Mr Horden well done

[@grannybird7365]

Wonderfully done. You have given voice to the story in my head.

[@feralbluee]

fabulous reader - of course, he must be an actor. i do wish these things would translate the Latin. i got the first one, but not the last. thanks so much. 🌷 lamia - vampire 🧛🏻

[@lorrainephillips7250]

Fantastic reader, I was carried away with this story. Thankyou so much for giving it to us. :)

[@spanglestein66]

Ooooohhhhhh lovely 😊

[@GradKat]

Excellent reading!

[@fernpearlsfriend4842]

Love this reading and the music.

[@HerrCrankzy]

Spooky, gen!genuinely scaring yet so well written and read. I guess this must be what people mean by "literate". I love it, thanks for the upload.

[@marcappleton8233]

Very fine narrator.

[@gerry5134]

Great story well read

[@DATo_DATonian]

Translation of end Latin: I went to the search bar and typed in the latin quote and a translator brought up the following - "ibi cubavit lamia" = "there the vampire roost"

[@kerriwachter6755]

That's not a great translation. I haven't taken Latin in many years, but I'd translate it more as "Here sleepeth Lamia." Lamia is often taken to be some sort of vampire, but to the ancient Greeks, Lamia was half woman, half monster, and ate children (kind of like the Mesopotamian goddess Lamashtu). I think Lamia is more generally taken to be a night demon (not a vrykolakas).

[@leebrockbank9627]

I know it can’t be but I hear vocal gesticulations like Derek jacobi

[@tonyeden8381]

Very very good 👋🏼👋🏼👋🏼

[@1pussychicken]

Thanks so much for uploading this excellently narrated M.R. James tale. It would be good to know what the translation of the Latin inscription on the metal cross was at the end of this story means. From the 'vulgate?' of Isiah 34 'ibi cubavit lamia'. Can anyone help?

[@portugasque]

It's Isaiah 34:14 “The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.” and the "ibi cubavit lamia" seems to be the part about the screech owl's (which is thought to refer to demon Lilith) place of rest. Sorry I can't more accurate, hope it helps.

[@1pussychicken]

@@portugasque Thank you so much for replying. That does make the daemon like creature more understandable. Cheers, it was a really good story.

[@wmnoffaith1]

You have vulgate? The vulgate refers to a Latin translation of the Bible around 382 A.D. primarily by St. Jerome. The verse kind of makes you wonder if the verse was referring to a Bigfoot type creature. It obviously referred to some animal/sentient being alive then that seems to be no longer living.

[@ichbifeuertrunk]

"Ibi cubavit lamia" means "There lay Lamia".

[@ichbifeuertrunk]

"The vampire nestled there" would be a less literal (but maybe more adequate) translation.

[@piripi40]

Ibi cubavit lamia

[@Paulkazey1]

Actor in the Archers.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

There are " Actors " in the Archers ! ? ! Can't say I've noticed.

[@leebrockbank9627]

Did Derek Jacobi read this. It sounds uncannily like the great master

[@leebrockbank9627]

Thanks for the information. I think he is an amazing narrator and has the perfect tone for the tale.

[@auntfanny3266]

He did, apparently (I've just googled it) record this in 2009 for the BBC, together with other stories, and was issued on cd. So you might be right.

[@markcynic808]

@@auntfanny3266 No. Cornelius Garret narrates this tale. He states as much before beginning the story. He sounds nothing like Derek Jacobi.

[@leebrockbank5813]

Thank you for the info aunt fanny

[@bbb103]

As fine a reader as this gentleman is, his narration doesn't hold my attention like Robert Powell or Michael Hordern.

[@annetteeggett]

Ruined by ads alas