Headless Priest of
Saint Nazianz

Known as a rogue priest, Father Ambrose Oschwald had been relieved of his parish and duties due to what The Catholic Church called “mystical, prophetic and heretical works.” In 1854, without a parish, he left and when he did most of the congregation left with him. Oschwald had his sites in the new world and the religious freedoms that could be found there, so he guided his congregation of over 100 people across the Atlantic to the newly formed State of Wisconsin.

They settled just south of Green Bay and established St. Nazianz, now calling themselves “the Association” . Their community was based on the sharing of everything, workers were not paid, there was no money and all work was done in support of the community. They flourished, and for years they kept the community alive, even after Oschwald’s death in 1873 the community remained vibrant. That is until 1896 when a group of Roman Catholic Salvation priests arrived to claim the town and grounds in the name of the Catholic Church.

The newly arrived priests built a church and seminary and took control of the small school. As would be expected, with a new regime, came new rules, lessons became an exercise of discipline through the stern assertion of authority. One priest took particular joy in tormenting his students. For him, the path to faith was one through fear and intimidation, he was known for riding through the woods at night on a large black horse, a dark bag over his head gave him the appearance of a headless rider. The following day warning the children the rider could take their souls at any time if they questioned their faith.

Now in death it would seem he has become the horror he portrayed while alive. His headless spirit now rides through the woods surrounding the deserted JFK Prep Academy and the Salvation Seminary outside St Nazianz. Whether he still rides out of the sheer determination of his cruelty, or some higher power has damned him to replay his sadistic ritual, he can still be seen on the darkest of nights, riding as if Hell itself was in pursuit.