Adelaide Lyle

Adelaid Lyle is one of three protagonists of this story from whose point of view the events unfold. Her point of view is a mix of current events and flashbacks to her clashes with Pastor Chambliss, and her removal of the children from the church. She is a church elder, 81 years old when the book begins. She has been with the parish since it's foundation, and when she leaves it is clear that something is very wrong. She was responsible for the blizzard birth of Christopher Hall, risking her life in the process. She takes issue with Chambliss and his risking the lives of the parishioners with the rattlesnakes that he would bring in and drape over them in a way for them to prove their faith. She has the strong will power to stand up to her pastor and pull all of the children (likely children...