February 18th 2010 - Spring Heeled Jack at Saint Francis Xavier's Church

The church of Saint Francis Xavier in Salisbury Street, Everton, was opened in 1848 and was designed to hold 1,000 people. This proved to be insufficient and so an additional Sodality Chapel was built onto the original church in 1889. This stunning church still holds services today. However, it is also the place of the last sighting of the infamous character 'Spring Heeled Jack' who, it was reported by police and clergy, was able to leap 20 -30ft over the roof-tops in Liverpool. He made his last appearance in 1904, hanging from Saint Francis Xavier's church spire and bouncing around on the cobbled streets below, much to the amazement of the large gathering of locals. With one last leap it is claimed that he jumped, spitting red fire balls, over the roof tops and into William Henry Street, never to be seen again. Take a close look again the photograph - can you see him?