diff --git a/hgext/churn.py b/hgext/churn.py
--- a/hgext/churn.py
+++ b/hgext/churn.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 from mercurial.i18n import _
 from mercurial import patch, cmdutil, util, templater
-import sys
+import sys, os
 import time, datetime
 
 def maketemplater(ui, repo, tmpl):
@@ -116,12 +116,18 @@ def churn(ui, repo, *pats, **opts):
 
     The map file format used to specify aliases is fairly simple:
 
-    <alias email> <actual email>'''
+    <alias email> <actual email>
+
+    By default .hgchurn in the working directory root will be used, if
+    it exists. Use the --aliases option to override this.
+    '''
     def pad(s, l):
         return (s + " " * l)[:l]
 
     amap = {}
     aliases = opts.get('aliases')
+    if not aliases and os.path.exists(repo.wjoin('.hgchurn')):
+        aliases = repo.wjoin('.hgchurn')
     if aliases:
         for l in open(aliases, "r"):
             l = l.strip()
diff --git a/tests/test-churn b/tests/test-churn
--- a/tests/test-churn
+++ b/tests/test-churn
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ user1 alias1
 user3 alias3
 EOF
 hg churn --aliases ../aliases
+echo % churn with .hgchurn
+mv ../aliases .hgchurn
+hg churn
+rm .hgchurn
 echo % churn with column specifier
 COLUMNS=40 hg churn
 echo % churn by hour
diff --git a/tests/test-churn.out b/tests/test-churn.out
--- a/tests/test-churn.out
+++ b/tests/test-churn.out
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ user1      1 ***************************
 alias3      3 **************************************************************
 alias1      3 **************************************************************
 user2       2 *****************************************
+% churn with .hgchurn
+alias3      3 **************************************************************
+alias1      3 **************************************************************
+user2       2 *****************************************
 % churn with column specifier
 user3      3 ***********************
 user1      3 ***********************