Bishop Quintard's Coat of Arms

Personal coat of arms of Bishop Charles Todd Quintard
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

As a son of the University of the South, I'm especially interested in heraldry related to its founders such as the Rt. Rev. Charles Todd Quintard (1824-1898), Second Bishop of Tennessee.  Quintard was immensely helpful in securing funding for the university's School of Theology which continues as a strong residential seminary in the Episcopal Church today.  

Quintard wore many hats, literally.  He was a medical doctor, served as a chaplain and surgeon in the Confederate Army (with pro-Union beliefs), vice chancellor of the University of the South, Bishop of the Diocese of Tennessee, and Chaplain for the Order of St. John.  Perhaps it was his office as Chaplain of the Order of St. John that provides us the visual delights in his personal coat of arms.  I believe the additional key in saltire behind the arms represents that chaplaincy with the Order.

The bishop's arms were a fun challenge to recreate and represent an important artifact in the story of heraldry in the Episcopal Church.

Arms:  Quarterly 1 and 4: Azure, a stag's head couped Argent; 2 and 3: Gules, an escallop Argent, overall on a cross Argent six pellets on a chief Gules a cross throughout Argent;

Motto:  Mon Dieu Est Ma Roche, "My God is my rock."

Recent Finds XI

Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida and the Cathedral Church of St. Peter
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The Recent Finds Series is rolling through the summer and here we find more heraldry in the Episcopal Church.  The arms of the Diocese of Southwest Florida, along with the Cathedral Church of St. Peter in St. Petersburg, were designed by Aimee H. Medary (1903-1973) who was the daughter of the Rev. Henry Martyn Medary (1871-1962) a noted heraldic designer in the church.  

Medary's design of arms for the diocese was made between 1969-1970 and blazoned:

"Party of three; in chief per pale argent, a pelican in its piety vulning itself, proper; and azure, a mullet of the first; the base parted fesswise wavy or, a setting sun gules issuing from the fess line, and argent two barrulets wavy of the second, within a bordure of the arms of the Diocese of South Florida, to wit: quarterly the first sable, the second and third argent, the fourth azure; a cross gules, fimbriated of the second" ("Artist designs diocesan banner," 1970, 6-B). 

The bordure of the arms are also used within the arms of the Diocese of Southeast Florida and based on the former Diocese of South Florida--the later was divided in 1969 to create several new dioceses.  

L-R: Arms of the Episcopal Dioceses of Southeast Florida and Central Florida
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Medary incorporated similar elements into her design for the Cathedral Church of St. Peter in St. Petersburg.  Medary's blazon for the cathedral's coat of arms:

"Party per pale, the Dexter parted fesswise wavy or, a setting sun in his splendor gules issuing from the fess line; and argent, three barrulets wavy azure: the Sinister of the second, a Latin cross inverted of the third debruised by two keys of the first in saltire" ("Heraldry used in church seal," 1970, 6-B).  

Both of Medary's designs work in harmony together providing the Diocese of Southwest Florida and its cathedral unique identification.

Arms of St. George's Episcopal Church, Dayton, OH
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The coat of arms of St. George's Episcopal Church in Dayton, OH were designed by the current rector, the Rev. Benjamin T.S. Phillips.  Phillips' use of a chevron in chief is an architectural reference to the red gable found on the parish's building, and creates a bespoke coat of arms identifying the parish while differencing the arms of St. George at the same time (Personal communication, B. Phillips, May 28, 2025). 

Arms of Trinity Episcopal Church (now merged) in Ossining, NY
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Trinity Episcopal Church in Ossining, NY has since merged and these arms are now considered historical.  I'm unable to locate any data or blazon information regarding Trinity's arms, but several elements readily explain themselves within the design.  

Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of New York
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The red cross of St. George is likely a reference to the parish's Anglican heritage, while the attributed arms of the Holy Trinity in base show its dedication.  The bordure of the arms of the Episcopal Diocese of New York help locate the parish as one within the see. 

To read more articles in the Recent Finds Series, click on the corresponding label below.

Works Cited

Artist designs diocesan banner. (1970, July 25).  The Evening Independent, 6-B.

Heraldry used in church seal. (1970, July 25).  The Evening Independent, 6-B.

Happy St. John's Day

Armorial flags of the Order of St. John
and the US Priory
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Each year on 24 June, the Church commemorates the Feast of St. John the Baptist, a day celebrated by confreres of the Order of St. John worldwide.  As a proud serving brother, I'm adding my hallelujahs as the Order rejoices worldwide in thanksgiving for the ministry and work done by so many in the name of St. John.  

Arms of the US Priory, Order of St. John
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The heraldry of the Order of St. John is beautiful, simple, and full of symbolism.  In 1926, the current version of the Order's arms were granted by the College of Arms in London and blazoned: Gules a Cross Argent in the first quarter a Representation of His Majesty’s Crest.  Priories and commanderies of the Order have their arms differened by adding relevant charges on the white cross. 

The arms currently used by the US Priory as seen above, were granted in 1996 with the official blazon: “Gules a cross Argent in the first quarter the Royal Crest proper differenced by charging the cross with a roundel Azure thereon the head of a Bald Eagle erased Argent armed Or within a Circlet of thirteen Mullets Argent.”

Armorial flag of the US Priory, Order of St. John
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Each priory and commandery also uses a version of the Order's arms translated into armorial flags for additional heraldic identification.

Armorial flag of the Order of St. John
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Following one year since I was appointed to the Order as a Member by HM King Charles III, I have made so many new friends and connections from just about every corner of the globe.  I would have never imagined such blessings in my life, and I offer my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for this incredible opportunity to serve in the Order of St. John.  Thanks be God.  May St. John the Baptist pray for me and all those in the Order of St. John as we strive to be Christ's hands on earth today.  Pro Fide!

Recent Finds Series: Arms for the Nativity

Symbols of the Holy Nativity
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Several weeks ago I happened upon an image of what I believed to be a design of arms for the Holy Nativity.  The design appears on a sewn banner and was found online within a photo gallery of a parish in the Episcopal Church.  So, I saved the photograph and filed it away until now.

Attributed coat of arms for Easter Sunday
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

My interest in creating attributed designs for liturgical seasons developed recently with coats of arms marking the Easter Triduum.  Click here to see the attributed arms for the Easter Triduum.  Finding a design for the Nativity was a nice surprise.  

Found: banner of the nativity inside an Episcopal Church

Several Google image searches yielded nothing, and I was beginning to wonder if this design was original.  The banner mostly adheres to the rules of heraldry, save the ensigned Chi Rho above the wooden cradle.  I don't believe proper works for the white plate charged with a red Chi Rho.   

Attributed coat of arms for the Holy Nativity
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

In my alteration illustrated above, I changed the plate (white roundel) to a torteau (red roundel) and charged it with a golden Chi Rho.  I felt like the red and gold made the image pop better giving the arms greater carrying power.  

Blazon for the attributed arms of the Holy Nativity:  Azure, a reverse pile terminating with a star of six points Argent in base a cradle fesswise proper ensigned with a torteau thereon a Chi Rho Or.

I wrestled a bit whether or not to divide the field per chevron Azure and Argent, opting instead for a reversed pile, point ending with a star of six points.  

I like how the reversed pile draws the eye downwards, the same direction as God becoming incarnate in Jesus.  Illustrating a skywards motion, on the other hand, requires a standard pile seen in my design for arms attributed to Easter Sunday.  With months to go before that holiest of days in December, I may continue to play a bit with the design. 

The recent finds series continues to keep things exciting.  To read more articles in this series, click on the corresponding label below.