"The Abbot" by Kathleen Patterson

[billdemo2]

I was very taken with the brief teaser, written by a member of this forum, for the Jamesian ghost story “The Abbot” by Kathleen J. Patterson which appeared in Ghosts And Scholars #12.

It's premise reminded me of some other ghost story I read in the past, but can't remember which one. Does anyone recognize which story Patterson is retreading here? Could it be Aickman, or MR James himself? Also, I would be greatful if some G&S enthusiast could provide a more detailed synopsis of the plot of The Abbot...

“The Abbot” by Kathleen J. Patterson
Edwin’s wife, Annie, makes the mistake of jokingly embracing the effigy on the tomb of Abbot Colwin. Only Edwin sees the effigy’s bony arms return the embrace, and when Annie finds her lip bleeding, they decide to find somewhere with more life about it than the gloomy old cathedral. But, in the pub, they meet the visiting anthropologist, Alexander McLaren, who has studied the legends that suggest the Abbot was some form of vampire.

.......

A personal favourite, from #12 (March 1990) is Kathleen J. Patterson - The Abbot: Bodmincoombe Cathedral, Cornwall. Annie playfully embraces the skeletal remains of Abbot Colwyn, receives a cut lip for her trouble and "Oh, how awful. He looks like he died of the plague" ....

In the local pub, one of the locals helpfully insists on relating the grim history of the thirteenth century "vampire abbot", done to death in secret for his "monstrous crimes." It unnerves Annie and companion Edwin enough for them to decide on playing it safe and leaving Bodmincoombe the following morning. Let's hope they're in time.