Nocturne's Crypt

↠ A specific kind of haunt that falls into the larger 'black dog' category of creatures, Church Grim folklore is surprisingly obscure and elusive. Connected to the Catholic faith's forceful expansion over England, Ireland, Germany, and parts of the Nordic territories, these spirits were said to guard (or simply exist within) consecrated ground. Most accounts specify that they're most commonly witnessed protecting on-site graveyards.

When a church was consecrated, it was believed that the Devil would come to claim the soul of a man as tribute- typically, the first to be buried by the church itself. To trick him, a dog (or in some cases, a pig) was brought into the churchyard, killed, then buried. it was seen as an act of mercy towards men, as they shouldn't suffer such a horrible fate.

Given that bones will eventually decay (especially when buried within wet soil with no safeguard), there's been no physical evidence that can be assuredly documented towards proving this act. However, it is rumored that this practice could be found in both Germany and Norway.

I suppose it's just another page within the massive codex of cases where dogs were seen as 'in league with evil forces.' A truly ironic thing, given that humans are the reason for dogs existing, at all.

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-Research Source: pg. 144, Notes on the Folk-Lore of Northern Countries of England and the Borders, by William Henderson.

-Previous Folklore Creature: Black Shuck

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