OLD TENNENT CHURCH – GHOST HUNTING SPOT
Editorial Update: January 2026
Photography Location Guides & Essential
Pamela Goodyer has been guiding photographers to the best photography spots in the world for over fifteen years. She also guides us to the best ghost hunting locations! Our office is only a few miles away, so we go here several times a year.
A New Jersey Haunting/Paranormal Investigation
Old Tennent Church is a Presbyterian church located at 448 Tennent Road in Manalapan, New Jersey. The congregation, a member of the Presbyterian Church USA, was founded in 1692 and played a prominent role in founding Presbyterianism in America. The current edifice was completed throughout 1751-53 and was named in memory of pastors John Tennent and his brother William Tennent. The Old Tennent Cemetery is located on the same property, and the Association manages it. The Church itself is a historic Revolutionary War site. Patriots fought and won a victory over the British in the Battle of Monmouth. The church building was used as a temporary hospital for wounded soldiers.
During the Battle of Monmouth, Capt. Henry Fauntleroy sat on a tombstone in the cemetery. Suddenly, a cannonball tore through the air, ripping off one of his legs and sending him crashing to the ground. He was carried into the nearby Church, which had been turned into a makeshift hospital. But even amidst the chaos and screams of wounded soldiers, Henry’s spirit remained restless. To this day, visitors claim they can still see his ghostly figure wandering the halls and leaving bloodstains on the pews where he died.
Intrigued by the tales, we visited the Church at night, determined to contact the legendary Capt. Fauntleroy. Little did we know what awaited us.
Remember to always ask permission and show respect when dabbling in the supernatural…or else face the wrath of those who have passed on.
A dark figure appeared on the tree before us as we stood in the dimly lit woods, but we did not see it at the time; we saw it later in our ghost-hunting photograph. We were attempting to communicate with the ghost of Captain Henry Fauntleroy, who had perished there during a bloody battle in 1778. But as the shadowy image loomed over us, we realized that perhaps we were not alone in this haunted place and that our attempt to reach out to the other side may have attracted something far more sinister.
The picture we took while talking to Captain Henry. We didn’t see him, but we communicated with him. He told us the enemy was coming.
At home, we left the room and came back in and the brightness slider was all the way, and we saw the man’s shadow on the tree! Captain Henry?
The photograph revealed a dark figure lurking in the shadows of the tree; its presence was only noticed days later when we were teaching photography to a student. The unnerving part? We didn’t lighten the image on our computer before walking away, yet it was mysteriously altered when we returned. Could Henry, the restless spirit we communicated with, have followed us home?
But that wasn’t even the most disturbing part. As we stood side by side during the photo shoot, the only two women in the woods that night, we could feel Henry’s chilling presence getting closer. He wanted us to document images of the other side, but as we did, he warned us of impending danger and evil spirits from the past. And then, like a premonition come to life, we saw an image of ourselves fleeing in our car, desperate to escape the malevolent forces closing in on us. It was time to listen to Henry and leave before it was too late.
We reluctantly started to refer to Henry as my “boyfriend” that night, only because he seemed infatuated with me. But something didn’t feel right. He warned us to leave, but hinted that he wanted to see us again. My ghost-hunting partner Gerry and I were on edge, feeling a heavy presence lurking in the shadows. We had taken precautions but knew the danger of encountering evil spirits. I could barely keep my eyes open after experiencing such intense supernatural activity. We quickly made our escape, fearing what evil spirits might follow us home in the dark of the night.
Any time is adequate, but traditionally, the best results have been documented after 9 p.m.
The church sits at the end of a road, shrouded in darkness and surrounded by ancient graves. Its address, 448 Tennent Road, is known to locals as a place cursed by restless spirits. GPS may lead you astray, but if you dare to venture to this desolate place, make sure it says “Old Tennent Cemetery,” or you may find yourself lost in the haunting grounds of Marlboro or Morganville instead. Choose your route wisely, for the spirits do not take kindly to uninvited guests.
Bring a high-resolution camera, preferably a DSLR, and a camera with infrared capability. Not only will this allow you to get images in the dark, but it may also reveal things invisible to the naked eye. A tripod is another crucial tool; it will help you steady your shots, especially when the adrenaline rush of encountering a ghostly manifestation.
FOR MORE DETAILS, DESCEND FURTHER INTO THE PAGE IF YOU DARE. BEWARE OF WHAT LURKS IN THE SHADOWS BELOW.
A DSLR CAMERA:
It can be used for Ghost Hunting Photography, but cannot completely see in the dark. You can use a red light to illuminate the area or bring a flashlight for focusing, and you can quickly obtain apparitions in your photos if you can stand the insidious invasion of the paranormal.
FULL SPECTRUM DIGITAL CAMERA:
It takes quality Full-Spectrum photos and videos. It has been professionally modified to accept deeper Ultraviolet (UV) light spectrum light, allowing photos deep into the usually unseen spectrum of light. It is best used with an external infrared light source.
INFRARED (IR) DIGITAL CAMERA:
Takes quality IR photos and video with the convenience and ease of a compact digital camera with a built-in infrared light source.
DSLR CAMERA LENS:
This is a wide-angle lens event, and it’s best to use a lens with a wide aperture, such as f/2.8 or lower. Higher-end cameras can handle very high ISO settings with minimal noise, making them ideal for this type of photography. However, if you don’t have a high-end camera, any camera will work. We’re not aiming for super high-quality images; our focus is on capturing a lot of paranormal activity that we can document. As long as we gather evidence, the images don’t need to be perfect. Some of our lower-end camera photos may be grainy, but we achieved our goal.
GHOST HUNTING CAMERA SETTINGS
For basic DSLR Photography, our goal is to document activity, not necessarily consistently super high quality so that we will do a few things a little out of the ordinary.
EMF METERS:
Measure fluctuations in electromagnetic fields (or EM fields). These fields directly result from electrical appliances in a home, cell phones, power lines outside, and even solar activity and weather fluctuations. Beyond that, a primary theory in the paranormal world is that entities can manipulate these fields to manifest themselves or interact with our world. When your meter goes off, do a long exposure on your tripod.
FOCUSING IN THE DARK:
Now you are set. If you do not have enough light or your camera will not focus, take a flashlight and light up a single subject in the picture. (Don’t blast light all over; you will disturb who it is you are there to find.) Put the focus point where the camera will focus on the area you have lit up. When you see the camera has obtained focus and the two-second timer starts, turn your flashlight off quickly before the exposure begins. The camera will now take the shot. Set your camera to manual focus without touching the focus ring. Take several pictures without moving your camera. You will have to refocus the same way every time you do different shots.
Another way to focus on darker areas is to turn on live view. Hit your zoom button and zoom in on something lit. Expose your image. When you zoom in, the camera can see it better to grab focus. This only works if you have enough light.
GHOST HUNTING TERMS:
GHOST HUNT – OLD TENNANT CHURCH:
Old Tennant Church is located on a busy street in Manalapan, N.J. – If you travel here, we expect you to have complete respect for the area and those who have traveled on. Please, under no circumstances, do anything that will upset those here and afar.
Old Tennent Church is a Presbyterian church located at 450 Tennent Road, Manalapan, New Jersey.
CAMPING
Do you want to let our fellow hunters know where to camp when they go to this church for ghost hunting? Email us to post your camping information here.
Place your ad here. Billed at $99 per year. Details
RESTAURANTS
Ghost hunters get very hungry. Let them know you’ll feed them by including your restaurant information here.
HOTELS
THE COLTS NECK INN
The best place to stay in this area is the Colts Neck Inn. If you are traveling and looking for a place to rest, visit the Colts Neck Inn Hotel. The location offers the country’s tranquility while being close to the Asbury Park and Long Branch Beaches, Delicious Orchards, Monmouth Race Track, Jersey Shore Premium Outlets, Eatontown, Freehold, and Red Bank. The two-story hotel features 47 individually decorated rooms with Thomasville™ furnishings. They also offer two grand suites, each with a Jacuzzi. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi, cable TV, parking, and continental breakfast. The Colts Neck Inn Hotel offers the comfort and charm one expects in a country setting, with modern amenities.
SEE ALL OF OUR PICTURES ON THE LONG STREET FARM PAGE
WEATHER
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