Church Grim and Witchcraft

Disclaimer

This is NOT a page about Wiccans or neo-pagans, and I do not advocate the belief that Wiccans are Satan-worshippers and/or baby-killers. I am well aware that they are not. This is a starting point for historical research into the great witch craze of 1100-1700 AD. And please, don't ask me for spells.

Church Grim

As a Ward

There is a widespread tradition that the churchyards were guarded from the Devil and witches by a spirit that usually took the form of a black dog. Those who saw it generally took it as a death warning.... William Henderson [a folklorist]...attributes it to a foundation sacrifice and points out that the Kyrkogrim of Sweden appears in the form of a lamb because, in the early days of Christianity in Sweden, a lamb was buried under the altar, while in Denmark the Kirkegrim took the form of a 'grave-sow'. Thomas Wright [a folklorist]...says that the Yorkshire church grim can be seen about the church in dark stormy weather by day and night. It sometimes tolls the bell at midnight before a death, and at a funeral the clergyman would see it looking out from the tower, and could tell by its aspect whether the soul of the corpse was destined for Heaven or Hell....

Ruth Tongue [a folklorist] says that when a new churchyard was opened it was believed that the first man buried there had to guard it against the Devil. To save a human soul from such a duty a pure black dog was buried in the north part of the churchyard as a substitute. In the Highlands...a similar belief was held. It was the duty of the last-buried corpse to guard the graveyard till the next funeral (K. Briggs 74, 75).

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Church Grim and Witchcraft is copyright 1998 to Shantell Powell.