In Manx folklore, the shape-shifting ogre said to destroy churches is the Buggane.
A Buggane was imagined as a huge, hostile creature native to the Isle of Man. Tales describe it taking forms such as a black calf or a gigantic human with animal features, including horns, hooves, glowing eyes, tusks, or a coarse mane of hair. Its supernatural strength made it capable of ripping church roofs away.
The best-known episode concerns St Trinian’s Church. According to the legend, the Buggane objected to the church being completed and tore off its roof repeatedly. In some versions, the creature’s power failed on hallowed ground, creating a narrow boundary that people could use to escape.
The Buggane is sometimes compared with a Scandinavian troll, but it belongs specifically to Manx tradition. It should not be confused with the Glashtin or Tarroo Ushtey, other Manx beings connected with water, animals, or shapeshifting.