The Arms of Church of the Advent Boston

Seal and coat of arms of Church of the Advent Boston.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

You cannot have Advent without the Advent...Boston that is.  Hands-down my favorite Anglo-Catholic parish in the Episcopal Church, I have had several deeply spiritual experiences living into the beautiful liturgies at Church of the Advent Boston.  Founded in 1884 in the Back Bay area of Boston--Brimmer Street to be precise--Advent is simply the best of Anglo-Catholic liturgy and theology and well worth a pilgrimage.   

The parish has a special connection to Ralph Adams Cram (1863-1942) who Shand Tucci (1975) notes Advent became the headquarters for a new gothic liturgical movement which Cram would help advance.  Moreover, Cram's first commissions were completed at Advent Boston, such as the furnishings in the Lady Chapel.  By understanding Cram's origins in his "gothic quest" we can begin to understand his friendship with Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) and their heraldic partnership.  I've posted the link to Shand Tucci's (1975) article below and commend it to the reader.

Coat of arms of Church of the Advent Boston.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Initially, I suspected that la Rose may have had a hand in designing the parish's arms given Cram's relationship to the parish as well as the gothic wafer design so prominently used by la Rose.  I was wrong.  

Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and Church of the Advent Boston.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The parish seal and coat of arms were designed in 1923 by parishioner Robert Turner Walker (1867-1931).  According to Church of the Advent (n.d.), the trumpet in pale references the Second Advent as told in the Book of Revelation, and the three crowns comprised of alternating crosses patee and fleurs-de-lis identifies the parish within the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts whose arms contain the same crowns.  La Rose designed the arms for the Diocese of Massachusetts in 1906.

Furthermore, the charges in dexter quarter also bear meaningful symbolism as Church of the Advent (n.d.) notes:

"In the upper left quadrant is the red cross of St George, badge of England, surmounted by a circle containing wavy blue and white lines. The lines symbolize water, and the heraldic device is called a fountain and represents a well or spring. This may allude to our roots in the Church of England, but Cross + Well is also a rebus for Croswell, our first Rector."

The parish's arms make a lovely armorial flag as well.

Banner of arms, Church of the Advent Boston.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Works Cited

Church of the Advent Boston (n.d.). The parish seal.  Church of the Advent Boston.

Shand Tucci, D. (1975).  Ralph Adams Cram & Mrs. Gardiner: The movement for a liturgical art.  Fenway Court, pp. 27-34 https://issuu.com/gardnermuseum/docs/1975_web