The Heraldry of England's Nazareth

The arms of the Priory of Walsingham circa 1510 records indicating blazon.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

During the Pandemic, I wrote a bit about the heraldry identifying "England's Nazareth," that holiest of places in England where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the Lady Richeldis.  Please click here to read my post on these arms.  As I continue to dabble in digital design, I thought it would be best to render the arms of the name of this blog's dedication.  More to point, I've never encountered a digital emblazonment for Walsingham and I rather liked the challenge to see what I could do.  

The emblazonment above is the earliest known coat from the Augustinian priory established in Walsingham.  The simple and clear arms are blazoned:  Argent, on a cross Sable five lilies slipped and seeded proper.

The arms of the College of Guardians of the Holy House of Our Lady of Walsingham.  Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

In 1945, a grant of arms was made to the College of Guardians of the Holy House of Our Lady Walsingham based on the historic coat borne by the Augustinians, albeit differenced of course.  Please click here to read more about the College's grant.  The College of Arms design is blazoned:  Argent, on a cross Sable five lilies slipped and seeded proper, on a canton Azure a holy house Or.

The biggest challenge in pulling these arms together is the image of the Holy House.  From the image below of the complete achievement (crest, arms, motto), I was able to get a basic sense of the layout and proportion, after all heraldic charges need not have too much detail.  

And so I was able to render my own version of the Holy House following the spirit of the emblazonment above.

My interpretation of the Holy House.

Naturally I had to render a proper banner of arms for the College

Banner of arms (or armorial flag) for the College of Guardians.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

However, there are regulations for ecclesiastical flags laid down in the Earl Marshal's Warrant of 1938.  Thus, I've rendered this design based on a photograph I found.

Flag arranged based on the 1937 Earl Marshal's Warrant concerning flag design in the Church of England.  Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Finally, this post would not be complete without the arms of the Shrine's Restorer, The Rev. A. Hope Patten (1885-1958) after his bookplate.

The arms of the Shrine's Restorer, The Rev. A. Hope Patten (1885-1958) after an emblazonment on his bookplate.  Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms of the "Slipper Chapel," or Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.