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Mythical Monsters, Critters, and Cryptids
I have always been a fan of the supernatural and for the longest time, I have been considering writing a book about the various creatures that can be found worldwide. I first considered going from continent to continent, but some continents are so rich in these creatures, that I could get lost in the research. Instead, I decided to go alphabetically, and once I hit Z, I will start again at A.
Because this is research-based writing, I will include all the references that I use at the end of the piece, so all of you can see where I get my information. I will also include further references that you can all enjoy in your own time. So, without further ado, let me introduce you to the Church Grim.
Warning: depiction of animal abuse.
Creature: A large black dog with red eyes that is charged with protecting churches from desecration.
What is it?
The Church Grim is often depicted as a large black dog with glowing eyes that stalks the church grounds, protecting it from all evil forces (the Devil, witches, thieves, and vandals) that seek to cause sacrilege or to desecrate those resting within the churchyard.
This creature is a guardian spirit, most often found in the folklore of the Norse and the British. It’s also known as the Kyrkogrim (Swedish), Kirkegrim (Danish), and the Kirkonväki (Finnish), and is considered to be a good spirit to those who mean no harm to the church it protects.
Historical significance
During the 19th century, when a church was built, it was believed that the first person to be buried there would become the guardian of the property for all eternity. To prevent this task from falling upon a human soul, sadly a foundation sacrifice would be required.
Similar to how animals were buried within the walls of a new home to create a protective house spirit, a large black dog was buried alive under the northern cornerstone of the church, in some cases, a lamb was buried under the altar (church-lamb). As this was the first creature buried, its spirit became the guardian of the grounds.
The Church Grim is not to be confused with a Black Dog, which is an entirely different entity with a muddied past. The Church Grim’s sole purpose was to protect the hallowed grounds it was buried on, ensuring that no one dared desecrate this. This could range from chasing the offending party off or attacking them.
The Scandinavian folklore, the Church Grim is a protective revenant that was once an animal buried in the church’s foundation and wasn’t always a dog. Other foundation sacrifices included horses, pigs, or boars.
In Yorkshire folklore, the Church Grim is an omen that foreshadows death but doesn’t cause it. This creature is known to toll the church bell at midnight to let everyone know that there was or is to be a death soon. It is also often seen watching a funeral and judging the soul to determine if it should go to Heaven or Hell.
In Scottish folklore, the Church Grim isn’t usually a dog but rather a human-form entity. It watches over the church grounds and hands the baton of service over to the next person to be buried on the church grounds. This vigil is known as faire chlaidh or the graveyard watch.
In modern times, it’s commonplace to see old church yards being protected by a living black dog that belongs to the caretaker or someone in the church itself. While very much still alive, being very good boys and girls, these dogs are also referred to as Church Grims because of the service they offer.
Modern depictions
While good cryptids don’t have as many stories as those we consider bad; there are several modern depictions of the Church Grim. My favourite would have to be Ruth from the anime and manga The Ancient Magus’ Bride. Big fan.
Other depictions include:
• Books
• The Last of the Giant Killers by John Christopher (1891)
• Year Walk: Bedtime Stories for Awful Children, the fifth chapter is devoted to a Church Grim.
• Let’s not forget about the Grim appearing in Harry Potter’s tea leaves in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K Rowling (1999).
• Short story
• The Church-grim by Eden Phillpotts (1914, September) in an edition of The Century Magazine, New York
• Mobile game
• Year Walk, where you need to consult a Church Grim for information about the future.
**Protection from **
As long as you mean no harm to a churchyard you’re within, regardless of age, the Church Grim won’t bother you. However, if you’re up to no good, there is nothing that can protect you from this beast’s teeth and claws.
Resources:
Church grim. (n.d.-a). Academic Accelerator. https://academic-accelerator.com/encyclopedia/church-grim
Church grim. (n.d.-b). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_grim
Harper, A. (2019, February 20). Creepin’ it real: The church grim. The Sandy River Review. https://sandyriverreview.com/2019/02/20/creepin-it-real-the-church-grim/
Further viewing:
And that is the sad and fascinating story of the Church Grim. As a kid, I often confused the Church Grim with the tales of Black Dogs. My only issue with trying to get research for this creature is that everything was the same. There really isn't much information about it.
Next week we'll be returning to Australia to look at the urban legend of the Drop Bear. If you know what this creature is, please don't spoil it for those that don't. I'm looking forward to writing about this vicious and deadly carnivore.
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