The Fanciful Arms of the American Church Union

Coat of Arms of the American Church Union
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

During the Covid-19 pandemic, I came across the most unusual coat of arms online and knew I needed to save the image for future analysis.  I had completely forgotten about the arms of the American Church Union--an organization within the Episcopal Church--until recently when I was reviewing old files.  Don't adjust your screen yet.  

Fanciful and decadent arms?  Yes.  Incorrect?  Well, no.  Just busy trying to convey multiple references by using too many charges.  

The American Church Union was established in 1936 as the outgrowth of previous versions, this one dedicated for the "maintenance and defense of the doctrine, disciple, and worship of the Church, as enshrined in the Book of Common Prayer." 

Image of the American Church Union coat of arms
Image source:  Woodruff (1936, November 11), page 621

Above is the original image published in the The Living Church article written by Clinton Rogers Woodruff (1868-1948) who served as President of the ACU and an attorney from Philadelphia.  Woodruff was actively involved in furthering the Anglo-Catholic movement within the Episcopal Church.  

Advertisement appearing as early as 1912
in Living Church Annual (1912), p.467

Woodruff (1936, November 11) notes this newly formed ACU was the outgrowth of two previous unions, one from the 1860s and the most recent version from 1908.  The article does not supply a blazon or design rationale for ACU's coat of arms, only noting the arms were previously borne by one of the earlier unions and seen in use as early as 1912.

 Side by side comparison of the arms of the United States of America
and those of the American Church Union
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

In the absence of any additional known data concerning the arms of the American Church Union, we can render a few informed guesses as to the design rationale.

These arms represent the state of heraldry in the Episcopal Church at the turn of the 20th century--the very purpose Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) saw in his heraldic work to correct by creating simple, clear, and perspicuous heraldry.  

First, we know by the dates involved these arms predate the 1940 adoption of arms of the Episcopal Church.  The lack of any unifying national symbol for the Episcopal Church in the earlier 20th century likely caused the designer to use the arms of the United States of America as the basis to show the organization's national scope.  I believe that much is quite clear when comparing ACU's arms with those of the US as seen above. 

Arms of the American Church Union
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Secondly, as to the charges on the cross quadrant, we're left to speculation as to their purpose.  Here's my working theory.  Given ACU's mission to preserve the 1) doctrine, 2) discipline, and 3) worship of the Episcopal Church in the Book of Common Prayer,  I think we can see a rationale beginning to emerge.

Doctrine could be illustrated by the seven red roses likely representing the seven sacraments of the Church, along with those three roses inverted surrounding the inescutcheon for the Holy Trinity.  The two gold bishop's mitres also likely represent discipline and authority.  For worship, I think, we see the blue fleur-de-lis in base which could represent the Blessed Virgin Mary and would strengthen the arms with a catholic purpose.

The blue inescutcheon with the Lamb of God might also be representative of worship, the heavenly banquet and aim of the Christian life.

I wanted to see if it was possible to revise the arms of ACU thinking and using those early mid-20th century resources for corporate heraldry.  Two possible revisions came to mind.

Two possible revisions for the arms of the American Church Union
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The first idea of mine was to draw out the inescutcheon and work with the image of the Lamb of God while still incorporating the three ideas of doctrine, discipline, and worship.

Revision Example 1
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Doctrine could be seen by the lamb standing on the barry wavy lines representing one of the many miracles Jesus performed during his earthly ministry--walking on water.  Discipline was again represented with the gold mitre of a bishop.  I liked the idea of the lamb embracing the mitre, showing the Church's tenderness and care for the ministry of the historic episcopacy.  

Pennon or flag designed by Chad Krouse, 2025
Click to Enlarge

I wanted the pennon or flag to show two references at once: creating a national symbol by placing the red and white bars horizontally to represent the flag of the United States and adding the chalice and host for both catholicity as well as for worship.  I felt this design gave a national symbol more readily recognizable to many by playing on the national flag.  

The chalice and host design has been used historically by Anglo-Catholic organizations and congresses, likely for the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the Church.  I believe this image would also provide clearer references to ACU's catholic aims.

Admittedly, this design is still busy while attempting to simplify all the references made within ACU's arms.

Revision Example 2
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The second idea emerged as my preference of the pair.  With this design, I wanted to strip away as much fussiness as possible with a clear and simple design.   

Side by side comparison of two design ideas
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Using the arms of the US as the basis to form the bordure would provide a reference to the national scope of the organization, while the chalice and host in pale provides clear catholic identification which would likely have been known to many at that time.  I think it could be argued that doctrine, discipline, and worship can all three be represented in a singular "catholic," emblem of sorts.  I believe all three are implied.  Regardless, the chalice and host create a simple and clear design.  

Had the Episcopal Church's coat of arms been designed then,
here's an example of using those as the bordure.
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I had two versions in mind here:  one to place the fleur-de-lis on the chalice playing on the Blessed Virgin Mary's role in the Incarnation (a very catholic position), or even more simply to have the monogram of the Holy Name placed on the host.

I think either would work, but the latter is becoming my favorite.

My favorite version of the revised arms of ACU
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

In summary, the arms of the American Church Union represent the state of heraldry in the Episcopal Church at the turn of the 20th century and underscore the need for a unifying national church emblem.

La Rose's emergence on the heraldic scene would help steer the fanciful impulses for heraldry towards a more simpler and dignified approach, employing a systematic framework for designing new corporate arms while establishing a standard for others to later follow.

Works Cited

Living Church Annual (1912).  The Living Church Annual and Whittaker's Churchman's Almanac.  Milwaukee: The Young Churchman Company. 

Woodruff, Clinton R. (1936, November 28).  An earlier Church Union.  The Living Church, 621-622.

New Arms for the Episcopal Parish of Alton and its Rector

The newly adopted coat of arms of the Episcopal Parish of Alton
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

It is quite humbling when someone compliments your art work; even more so when it becomes the identity of an entire community.  I am thrilled to share the newly adopted coat of arms for the Episcopal Parish of Alton in Alton, IL.  The Rector is a dear friend and I wanted to help as he establishes his new ministry as Rector.  Somehow, I managed to convince him to adopt arms too.

Following the framework for corporate heraldry used by Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941), the design for these arms came readily to mind--my own mental "refrigerator test."  In other words, when I struggle to construct a coherent design, I know the time isn't right just yet.  On the other hand, there have been many instances when the design becomes immediately clear to me--those designs are the best.  The arms of the Episcopal Parish of Alton came to mind rather quickly, a positive indication for a prospective coat of arms.

Infographic from the proposal
Click image to enlarge

In a nutshell, la Rose's goal in creating corporate arms was to layer as many references identifying the owner while keeping the design simple and clear.  One charge--or in "la-Rosian" style, charge-on-charge--could combine multiple references to the corporate body without fuss.  

Since the Episcopal Parish of Alton combines two historically independent parishes, St. Paul's and Trinity, I knew there was a solution honoring the heritage of both while creating something new in the process.

The blazon I landed on seemed clear and reasonable to me.  It combined references to the dedication of both parishes with the sword in pale for St. Paul and three paddle wheels for the Holy Trinity.  Moreover, the chevron makes a nice image of two separate sides coming together at one point, and I felt satisfied in honoring the two communities.  The paddle wheels and barry wavy lines on the chevron reference the parish's location along the Mississippi River and honors local history.  

The blazon for the arms of the Episcopal Parish of Alton: Gules, a sword in pale Argent point to base hilt and pommel Or debruised by a chevron barry wavy Argent and Azure fimbriated Or with three paddle wheels of the field.

Applications for Identity 

Example of business card

Example of letterhead

I wanted to design a simple word mark incorporating the new arms to help reinforce its use within the daily life of the parish.  For example, the two images above show the coat of arms and word mark used to create official parish stationary, such as business cards and letterhead.  

Armorial flag, processional banner, and seal designed
for the Episcopal Parish of Alton
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Countless applications come to mind for the new arms:  coffee mugs, lapel pins, automobile stickers, tee shirts, and the list of merch goes on and on.  Because these files are rendered in vector, the sky is the limit for adding this new dignified decoration to almost anything.  

Cover page of the proposal
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I believe it is critically important that all members of the corporate body have the ability to inhabit their organization's coat of arms--be that on a Christmas ornament or cufflinks, owning a piece of the corporate brand only serves to strengthen and sustain it. 

This was a fun project for me and I'm delighted that the parish will use these designs in one way or another.  I am thankful that I can begin to share my work freely for good use.  My goal is to help smaller parishes either adopt new coats of arms to be used as branding, or help update current digital assets with vector files for use in social media, web design, and so on.  The rationale is that these faith communities would likely not spend money on this sort of project--I've found my niche for ministry and a special way I can serve.  

New Coat of Arms for the Rector

The coat of arms of The Rev. Daniels,
Rector of the Episcopal Parish of Alton
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Not only was I able to have my first parish coat of arms adopted, I designed arms for the Rector too.  

Arms: Argent, on a fess Sable two Mayflowers (epigaea repens) Argent barbed Vert each charged with a fleur-de-lis Azure debruised by a pile Azure charged with a dove descending Argent haloed Or

Motto: Dum Spiro Spero, “While I breathe, I hope”

Design Rationale: The new armiger is an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church, and referenced through the clerical color of black for the fess. The fess is charged with two Mayflowers (epigaea repens) honoring the armiger’s ancestor, William Bradford (1590-1657), who emigrated from England and arrived at Plymouth Colony aboard the Mayflower in 1620.

The flowers are charged with a fleur-de-lis representing not only the City of St. Louis where his ministry began, but also his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Additionally, the fleur-de-lis is used as the crest in the armiger’s order, the Order of Christ the Savior.

The blue pile represents the limitless heavens above as the dove of peace descends offering grace, healing, and hope in the world today. The motto is attributed to King Charles the Martyr, representing another saintly model for the armiger.

Date: 10 January 2025

The cleric's arms are ensigned by a black galero, cords alternating white and black, and ending with one tassel to indicate his priestly office.  As a guideline, I followed the Earl Marshal's Warrant of 1976 which authorized clergy in the Church of England to ensign their arms with ecclesiastical hats following a prescribed "annex schedule."  To read the Earl Marshal's Warrant of 1976 regarding the use of ecclesiastical hats, click this link to view the document on the College of Arms website.

To view illustrations by rank/office from the College of Arms, click this link for the College of Arms website.

Canterbury & York

Coat of arms of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Church of England
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

To continue exploring the world of ecclesiastical heraldry in the Episcopal Church, I want to explore the two archiepiscopal arms in the Church of England--those of Canterbury and York.  This whole post stems from running across a version of an armorial flag for Canterbury that I'd not seen previously...

It seems one cannot discuss the ancient arms of the See of Canterbury without acknowledging the arms used by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster.

Coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Westminster (Roman Catholic)
revised in 2014
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The Heraldry Society posted an excellent article on the arms of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster which offers some details and history around these arms. Please click this link to read the article on the The Heraldry Society website.

Side by Side: the arms of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster (left)
and the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Church of England (right)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I've also learned that in 2014, the Archdiocese of Westminster, in fact, revised its coat of arms to appear as they do in the above illustration.  What changed?  The archiepiscopal cross found in pale behind the pallium was removed and placed as an external ornament, because the cross required two cross bars reflecting the see's metropolitical authority.  Click this link to read about the change on the Archdiocese of Westminster website.

Two versions of the archiepiscopal staff from the arms of Canterbury and the two bar 
staff carried by the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
Rendered by Chad Krouse

Finally, I know now that the archiepiscopal cross in the arms of Canterbury predates the use of two bar crosses to identify metropolitans.  All this from seeing a flag online!  

Coat of arms of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Admittedly, I've not thought a whole lot about the design for these arms, taking them for granted I suppose.  Initially I thought the pall was the ordinary in the form of a pall cross rather than a charge.  This fact is new and interesting to me.  Especially when considering these arms as an armorial flag.

The See of Canterbury (Cantaur) is the senior archiepiscopal office in the Church of England, followed by its junior partner, the See of York (Ibor).

The blazon for the arms of the Archbishop of Canterbury: Azure, an archiepiscopal staff in pale Or surmounted of a pall Argent fringed of the second and charged with four crosses patee fitchee Sable.

Possible armorial flag for the Archbishop of Canterbury
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The scholarly world of the Internet showed me an image of these arms as a flag during my search and I was rather stunned.  It was the image of the flag that caused me to hunt down the blazon to see what's going on.  There is no pall cross ordinary.

So, I'm inclined to believe that the illustration above does in fact work when translating these arms into a flag.  

Armorial flag of Sewanee: The University of the South
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Here's an example to clarify what I mean.  The arms of the University of the South (Sewanee) in Sewanee, TN has a pall cross as the ordinary in the design and overlaid with the "Sewanee" tressure.  If Canterbury's arms used the pall as the ordinary, the armorial flag would translate much like Sewanee's flag above.  Make sense?  All this was new to me and I simply wanted to share.

Armorial flag and coat of arms of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

One important point to remember when considering ecclesiastical flags in the Church of England is the Earl Marshal's Warrant of 1938, which codified the design and arrangement for flags within the provinces of Canterbury and York.

Let's say St. Swithun's by the Swamp (always a go to example in seminary) wants to fly a flag from the church tower.  The parish is situated within the boundary of the Diocese of St. Albans and under its authority.  Furthermore, the diocese is located within the Province of Canterbury in the Church of England.

Coat of arms for the Diocese of St. Albans, Church of England
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

According to the Earl Marshal's Warrant of 1938, St. Swithun's flag must adhere to these guidelines:  the flag will consist of a white field with the red St. George cross throughout, and in dexter canton the arms of the diocese where the parish resides.  The illustration below would be the proper flag for our fictitious parish to fly. 

Armorial flag of the Diocese of St. Albans
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

As a complete aside:  I assert that the Earl Marshal's Warrant of 1938 likely influenced the final design for the coat of arms of the Episcopal Church, which officially adopted its arms in 1940.  To read the whole saga of how the Episcopal Church adopted arms, please click here for my article.

Armorial flag of the Province of Canterbury
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Yes, I suppose the arrangement also works for both Canterbury and York, but its rather drab, all things considered.  I prefer the initial design with the pall and archiepiscopal staff.  If I was the Rt. Hon. Rt. Rev. Archbishop of Canterbury, I'd be on the phone with Garter to plead my case!

Coat of arms of the Archbishop of York
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I'm fortunate to say that I've been inside York Minister in the City of York.  The minister is huge!  I hope one day to be equally as fortunate to make a pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral.  The City of York itself, as I recall, is filled with heraldry.

Possible armorial flag for the Archbishop of York
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The arms of the Province of York are simple and clear, so long as we don't get into the Gules and pall with archiepiscopal staff...

Flags of the Provinces of Canterbury & York
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Recent Finds X

Coats of arms from various parishes and cathedrals in the Episcopal Church
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Part 10 of Recent Finds showcases several more coats of arms from parishes and cathedrals in the Episcopal Church discovered online.  To read more in the Recent Finds series, click the corresponding label at the end of this post.  I'm beginning to believe that St. Andrew and St. James win the popularity contest for being dedicated to the most Episcopal parishes.

Key to illustration above:

Top Row (L-R):  St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral (Memphis, TN), St. Michael's Episcopal Cathedral (Boise, ID), and Calvary-St. George Episcopal Church (New York, NY)

Middle Row (L-R): Grace Episcopal Church (Spring Hill, TN), Prince of Peace Episcopal Church (Dallas, PA), and The Episcopal Church of St. Andrew and Holy Communion (South Orange, NJ) 

Bottom Row (L-R): St. Andrew Episcopal Church (Kokomo, IN), St. James Episcopal Church (Fairhope, AL), and Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Memphis, TN).

Coat of arms of St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral Memphis, TN
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I'm admittedly somewhat conflicted with this design, knowing there's a great rationale and explanation for the arms.  I simply cannot locate one online at the moment.

Coat of arms of St. Michael's Episcopal Cathedral Boise, ID
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The arms of St. Michael's Cathedral are bold and impressive.  The bells, according to DeKay (1993) reference the first sounds of the Church ringing in the Boise area.

Coat of arms of Calvary-St. George Episcopal Church New York, NY
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Clean and simple, the arms of Calvary-St. George Episcopal Church do not disappoint!

Coat of arms of Prince of Peace Episcopal Church Dallas, PA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The arms of Prince of Peace Episcopal Church are quite stunning in my opinion--someone knew what they were doing when designing these arms for the parish.

Blazon for the arms of Prince of Peace Episcopal Church Dallas, PA:  Ermine, on a cross quadrate throughout Vert a dove descending Argent haloed Or with an olive branch in its beak Proper.

Coat of arms of The Episcopal Church of St. Andrew and
Holy Communion South Orange, NJ
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The arms of St. Andrew & Holy Communion suitably differenced the attributed arms of St. Andrew while providing clear identification of the parish.  Simple and clear. 

Coat of arms of Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church Memphis, TN
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I like how the anchor is differenced here, just wish the feather quill pen was placed differently or omitted altogether.  A lovely coat of arms nonetheless.