Nicholas Dryer
Nicholas is the main character in the first part of the story. He is an intelligent man who remained orphan at a young age because his parents died because of the plague. As a child, he is described as being a week and feeble child who changes once he remains an orphan. After that, the young Nicholas is taken in by a strange man who initiates him into the strange practices if Satanism. Nicholas then grows up to become a respected architect who planned to build a grand Church. When one of the men on the site dies, Nicholas thinks that maybe the church needs human sacrifices.
Thomas
The second chapter focus on the story of a young man named Thomas who lives with his mother near one of the churches built by Nicholas Dryer. Thomas is a lonely child who has troubles making friends. He finds refuge in books and, in comparison with other children of his age, is not afraid to go near the churches in his neighborhood. In the second chapter Thomas develops from a small boy and discovers his sexuality. He then follows a man into the labyrinths under the church and eventually dies there.
Joseph
Joseph is the man who takes over the responsibility of killing after some men begin suspecting Nicholas Dryer. The two become associated with Joseph killing and then Dryer presenting the sacrifices. The reason why the two decide to work together is because they are sure that collaboration is the only way they can survive.
Christopher Wren
Christopher is Nicholas Dryer’s supervisor. He goes to the Church site to investigate the building of the church and to tell Nicholas he needs to work faster. Christopher is hated by Nicholas because of his attitude and apparent lack of knowledge.
Mirabilis
Mirabilis was the strange man who took Nicholas in and introduced him to the Satanic practices that will later influence Nicholas’s life. Mirabilis keeps Nicholas for just a week, time during which Mirabilis transmits the knowledge he has.
The two women
When Nicholas meets Mirabilis he is accompanied by two strange and beautiful women. While the women are not named, they are afraid Nicholas will be infected by the plague and tries to convince Mirabilis not to get close to him.
Yorick Hayes
The man Nicholas Dryer suspects of sending him a threatening letter. Nicholas decides to write back to Yorick Hayes and confront him about the letter.
Walter
Walter is Nicholas’s assistant. He is looked down by Nicholas who sees him as inferior to him. He kills himself at the end of the novel.
Mr. Hill
Mr. Hill is the mason working on the Church site.
Thomas
Thomas was Mr. Hill’s son who fell from the church and died. After his death, Nicholas Dryer gets the idea that he needs to offer a blood sacrifice for the Church to be successful.
Thomas's mother
The mother appears briefly in the second chapter and she is presented as being a loving mother who cares about her son’s wellbeing. She is protective of him and also disappointed because her son fails to make new friends. Because of this, she tries to push him to get closer to other children.
Nat Eliot
Nat is Nicholas’s servant. He is described as someone who is not particularly intelligent and who is looked down on by his master.
The monkey doctor
The name Nicholas gives to the pharmacist coming to treat him in the second chapter. He is unable to give Nicholas a solution to his problems.
Mrs. Best
The owner of the house where Nicholas stayed. She is described as a kind woman who takes care of Nicholas when he is sick.
The aunt
The aunt is the person who took Nicholas in after his parents died. Nicholas remained with her until he was able to support himself financially.
Ned the begger
Ned is the second person whose death is seen by Nicholas. Ned is a drunk who lost everything he had because of his problem with alcohol. He is convinced by Nicholas to kill himself in one of the churches built by him.
The small boy
The small boy is an unnamed child killed in the fifth chapter by Joseph as a sacrifice for the new church. He remains unnamed.
Dan Dee
Dan is the third person killed. He is mentioned in the sixth chapter. In comparison with the other victims, no background information about him is provided.
Mrs. West
Mrs. West is Hawksmoor’s neighborhood mentioned in the sixth chapter. He eventually ends up killing him in a fit
Matthew Hayes
Matthew is the fourth victim found by Hawksmoor. His body was found in the church St. Mary.
