The village is reputedly haunted by the ghost of the former Vicar of Lapford's church, John Arundel-Radford. During the 1860's, he murdered his curate, but was spared from the death penalty by a jury consisting of many of his parishioners. He then returned to his parish duties. His dying wish was to be buried within the church and he threatened to haunt the village if this wish was not undertaken. The church authorities would not allow this, and he was buried outside the vestry door where his grave can still be seen today. Consequently, his angry spirit is said to still wander around the village.

Lapford is also said to be haunted by the spirit of the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Beckett. On the anniversary of his murder he is said to gallop through the village on horseback on his way to confront Sir William de Tracey, of nearby Nymet Tracy, for his part in the murder.