Thechurch grim is aguardian spirit inEnglish andNordic folklore that oversees the welfare of a particular Christianchurch, and protects thechurchyard from those who would profane and commitsacrilege against it.[1] It often appears as ablack dog but is known to take the form of other animals.[2][3]
TheEnglish church grim usually takes the form of a large black dog with red eyes and guards churchyards from those who would profane them, including thieves, vandals,witches,warlocks, and theDevil himself. In the 19th century, folklorists believed that it had once been the custom to bury a dog alive under thecornerstone of a church as afoundation sacrifice so that itsghost might serve as a guardian.[2][3]
Like many spectral black dogs, the grim, according toYorkshire tradition, is also an ominous warning and is known to toll thechurch bell at midnight before a death takes place. During funerals, the presidingclergy may see the grim looking out from the church tower and determine from its aspect whether the soul of the deceased is destined forHeaven orHell. The grim inhabits the churchyard day and night and is associated with dark stormy weather.[3][4]
When a new churchyard was opened, it was believed that the first person buried there had to guard it against the Devil. To prevent a human soul from having to perform such a duty, a black dog was buried in the north part of the churchyard as a substitute.[3][5] According to a related belief inScotland, the spirit of the person most recently buried in a churchyard had to protect it until the next funeral provided a new guardian to replace them.[3][6] This churchyard vigil was known as thefaire chlaidh or "graveyard watch".[6]
Afolktale of theDevil's Bridge type is also an example of themotif of a dog (in this case, a dog also named Grim) being sacrificed in place of a human being. In theNorth Riding of Yorkshire, attempts were made to build a bridge that could withstand the floods' fury, but none succeeded. The Devil promised to build one on condition that the first living creature that crossed it should serve as a sacrifice. When the bridge was complete, the people gave long consideration as to who should be the victim. Ashepherd who owned a dog named Grim swam across the river then whistled for Grim to follow, who went over the bridge and became the Devil's sacrifice.[7] The bridge then became known as Kilgrim Bridge[7] and was later renamedKilgram Bridge, which today crosses theRiver Ure inNorth Yorkshire.[8][9]
TheScandinavian church grim is also known as theKyrkogrim (Swedish), Kirkonväki (Finnish), andKirkegrim (Danish)[2][3][10] is likewise defined as the protective revenant of an animal buried alive in the church foundation. In Sweden, this tradition is mainly found in the formerly Danish areas in the south (Scania,Halland, andBlekinge).
It dwells in the church tower or some other place of concealment, wanders the grounds at night, and is tasked with protecting the sacred building. It keeps order in the church and punishes those who perpetrate scandals.[10]
It is said that the first founders ofChristian churches would bury a lamb ("church-lamb") under thealtar. When a person enters the church when services are not being held, he may see the lamb, and if it appears in the graveyard (especially to thegravedigger), then it portends the death of a child.[2][10] In some tellings, the lamb is said to have only three legs.[11]
The lamb is meant to representChrist (theLamb of God) as the sacred cornerstone of the church, imparting security and longevity to the physical edifice and congregation.[10] Other animals used to create the church grim included a lamb, boar, pig, and horse.[2] A grave-sow (or "graysow"), the ghost of asow that was buried alive, was often seen in the streets of Kroskjoberg where it was regarded as anomen of death.[1][2]
There are tales of the Danish Kirkegrim and its battles with the Strand-varsler that tried to enter the churchyard. Strand-varsler are the spirits of those who die at sea, are washed up on the shore, and remain unburied.[10]
In Swedish tradition, a person attempting theÅrsgång, or year walk, a divination ritual that involved circling a churchyard on New Year's Eve, would have to contend with the church grim, which was the natural enemy of the year walker.[12]
The Last of the Giant Killers published in 1891, includes a story whereJack the Giant Killer defeats an evil church grim that takes the shape of a goat. In this tale, Jack is helped by the ghost of a young woman who, like the church grim, was buried alive as a foundation sacrifice.[13]
"The Church-grim" byEden Phillpotts is a short story published in the September 1914 edition ofThe Century Magazine, New York.
In the novelHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban byJ. K. Rowling, theDivination teacher,Sybill Trelawney, associates Harry'stea leaves with the Grim, which she calls a "giant spectral dog that haunts churchyards."[14]
The character "Ruth" inThe Ancient Magus' Bride manga and anime series is a church grim.
In the mobile gameYear Walk, the player's task is to reach the church and consult a church grim to see what the future holds.
In the subsequentYear Walk: Bedtime Stories for Awful Children, the fifth chapter is devoted to the Church Grimm.[15]
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