Arms of the National Shrine & Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham

Armorial ensigns of the National Shrine & Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Walsingham is truly an ecumenical place.  You feel this as soon as you enter the village; Orthodox, Anglican, and Roman Catholics all venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Walsingham.  I've long felt that Walsingham is the key to fruitful ecumenical relations for the Body of Christ.

As I've posted before regarding the arms granted to the College of Guardians of the Holy House of Walsingham--a.k.a.the Anglican Shrine--it's time to examine its nearby Roman Catholic cousin, the National Shrine and Basilica.  Click here to learn about the arms of the College of Guardians.

The "Slipper" Chapel

The National Shrine and Basilica of Walsingham.
Source: ExploreWestNorfolk.co.uk

Long known as the "Slipper Chapel," this structure dates to the mid-14th century and dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria.  Located roughly one mile from Walsingham, the chapel served as the last stop for those making their pilgrimage to the Holy House.  With bare feet as an act of humility, the faithful would removed their shoes at the chapel before proceeding onwards to Walsingham.

"When this chapel was built, Walsingham was second only to Canterbury in the ranks of English pilgrimage. The replica of the Holy House, where Mary had received news of her pregnancy from the Angel Gabriel, contained the precious statue of Our Lady of Walsingham. Thousands of people made their way here, down the muddy tracks and over the rolling Norfolk fields. 

"At Houghton St Giles, they would enter the orbit of Walsingham, their goal now almost in sight. It may be that they took off their shoes here, and walked the last stretch barefoot. It might also be the case that this is why it is called the Slipper Chapel. And it may be that it is not true, or even likely, for many of the pilgrims here would probably have been barefoot long before they reached Houghton" (Knot, 2023).

The chapel's history waxed and waned through the years and eventually fell into disrepair.  A wealthy lady, Miss Charlotte Pearson Boyd discovered the property and quickly purchased it on June 26, 1896. and gave it to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton for use.  The bishop charged the Benedictines at nearby Downside Abbey to care for the place.

In time, a statue of Our Lady of Walsingham was commissioned and stayed at the nearby Roman Catholic church in Kings Lynn.  Knott recounts that on occasion, pilgrimages from Kings Lynn to Walsingham took place as the statue of Our Lady was carried in procession.

Knott continues his story of the chapel:

"And so things might have remained, if it had not been for the emergence on to the Walsingham scene of one Alfred Hope Patten. In 1921, he became Anglican Vicar of Little Walsingham. A devout and energetic Anglo-catholic, Hope Patten found himself to be the right person in the right place at the right time. Everything came together, in this decade when Anglo-catholicism reached the peak of its influence in the Church of England, and the Church itself was the most vivid it would ever be in the national consciousness. He installed an image of Our Lady of Walsingham in the Anglican parish church of St Mary. 

"Throughout the 1920s, visits to the statue grew in popularity, until thousands of Anglo-catholics each year were coming to pray in the church and to process around it. As you may imagine, the Anglican Bishop of Norwich was outraged, and demanded that Hope Patten remove the image from his church. Hope Patten being the kind of man he was, he acceded to this request by building a new replica of the Holy House on the other side of the Priory ruins, and placing the statue inside it. 

"At last, the Shrine of Our Lady had been returned to Walsingham - but, much to the the chagrin of the Catholic Church, it was an Anglican one" (Knott, 2023).     

Good old Hope Patten!  From here the National Shrine's presence grows, aided by two important papal actions.  The shrine was elevated by a canonical coronation decreed by Pope Pius XII in 1954, and later Pope Francis elevated the National Shrine to a minor basilica in 2015.

Arms of the National Shrine & Basilica

Arms of the Augustine Priory of Our Lady of Walsingham
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

So now the heraldry bit.  Upon the elevation of the shrine to a basilica, external ornaments are required in order for the arms to show its new status, by adding the papal umbraculum or "big umbrella" and crossed keys.  

Ordinariate News provides the following information:

"Dr. David [Andrew] Woolf has been a longstanding pilgrim and supporter of the Shrine and remains a member of the Order of Our Lady of Walsingham. He has links with the Rector of the Basilica, Monsignor John Armitage, who has since asked him to ensure that heraldically suitable Arms might be adopted by the Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham.

"A manuscript dating from c. 1510 records the Arms of the Priory of Walsingham as Argent on a cross sable five lilies slipped argent, i.e. a black cross on a white background, with five lilies superimposed on the cross. The Basilica is now the modern day successor of the Priory of Walsingham, and as such it is appropriate that the Basilica has assumed the Arms of the Priory. These Arms have been augmented to include the ombrellino and the Papal crossed keys: one gold, the other silver" (Murphy, 2016 March 7).

And here's where I ask the question:  does the basilica have the right to bear the undifferenced arms of the Augustinian Priory of Walsingham?  With all due respect to Dr. Woolf, a fellow member of The Heraldry Society, my answer:  no.  

Consider these points:

1. When the College of Guardians of the Holy House of Walsingham petitioned the College of Arms in 1945 for a coat of arms, the arms were differenced from those used by the priory with the addition of a blue canton containing an image of the Holy House in gold.  The College of Arms, most likely, would not make a new grant without some change made to an existing coat of arms.  The ruins of the priory, it should be noted, are located within the bounds of the anglican shrine at Walsingham.  

2. When Pope Benedict XVI created the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in 2009, the adopted arms had two marks of differencing from those of Walsingham--replacing the color of the cross from black to blue while selecting fleurs-de-lis for the Madonna lilies.  These arms are impaled along with those used by Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890) to form the official coat of arms of the ordinariate.

L-R (Top): Arms of the Anglican Ordinariate in the UK and US
Bottom: Arms of the US Ordinariate's cathedral in Texas
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The illustration above shows the arms of the Ordinariate in the UK (top left) and in the US (top right).  The arms below can only be described as those for Our Lady of Walsingham Cathedral in Houston, Texas, seat of the bishop for the US Ordinariate.

The arms of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham are blazoned:  Per pale, in dexter argent upon a cross azure five fleurs-de-lis proper [Ordinariate]; the sinister half, Or upon a fasce dancette gules between three heart gules [Newman].

3.  The original arms, as far as we know, were used by the Priory of Augustinian canons in Walsingham.  The National Shrine is simply not a successor able to use these undifferenced arms--the National Shrine is neither a priory nor Augustinian.  Simply being the same denomination does not grant successor status in my opinion.  

I'm not the sort of chap who complains without proffering solutions.  I propose a revision to the arms currently being used by the National Shrine and Basilica of Walsingham. 

A Proposal for Unification in Arms

Illustrating possible unification in arms between the National Shrine & Basilica and the Anglican Shrine of the College of Guardians
Click image to enlarge
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Illustrating unification in corporate heraldry is a beautiful concept.  When designed and executed properly, a suite of armorial ensigns harmoniously display bespoke identification for the corporate sole and its surrogate foundations.

As I wrote at the beginning of this article, Our Lady of Walsingham has a special charism at work in the hearts of Anglicans, Roman Catholics, and Orthodox Christians.  Our Lady, in other words, is a bridge between Christ and His Church.  Thus, Our Lady of Walsingham serves as a powerful unifier for all Christians and denominations.  Why not incorporate this charism into the heraldry of Walsingham?  This desire for unification in arms forms the basis of my proposal.

Proposed arms designed by Chad Krouse, 2025

I've rendered my little thought experiment above to illustrate the design proposal.  The revision, in my opinion, follows with what I believe is in keeping with one practice used by the College of Arms for differencing existing arms.  I could be wrong.

Processional banner of the proposed arms for the National Shrine & Basilica
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Armorial flag of the proposed arms for the National Shrine & Basilica
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

On a processional banner or armorial flag, the proposed arms look dignified and worthy of the National Shrine and Basilica.  The flag would not have to comply with the Earl Marshal's Warrant of 1938 which regulates ecclesiastical flags for the Church of England.

The blazon I offer for the proposed revision of arms of the National Shrine & Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham: Argent, on a cross Sable five Madonna lilies slipped and seeded proper, on a canton Azure a crescent Or.  

Proposed revision of arms for the National Shrine & Basilica
of Our Lady of Walsingham
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The crescent charge has long been a Marian symbol and rendering it in gold alludes to Pope Pius XII's canonical coronation of the shrine.  I also like how the crescent charge plays with the cadency mark.  In a sense, the Basilica is the "child" of the Priory (albeit a distance one, like a different cadet branch, and not able to inherit the undifferenced arms).  The canton reflects Our Lady's color of blue while providing ties for unification with the arms of the College of Guardians.  

Maybe I've missed something, as I am by no means an expert in heraldic law and inheritance.  In the meantime, may the charism of Our Lady of Walsingham continue to spread in the hearts and minds of souls everywhere.

Originally written and posted in 2020, I've recently revised this article with new artwork and data.

Works Cited

Murphy, David (2016 March 7).  New coat of arms for the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham is designed by an Ordinariate member.  Ordinariate News.  Accessed on May 23, 2025.  https://ordinariateexpats.wordpress.com/2016/03/07/new-coat-of-arms-for-the-basilica-and-national-shrine-of-our-lady-of-walsingham-is-designed-by-an-ordinariate-member/

Knott, Simon (2023). Slipper Chapel, Houghton St Giles.  The Last of England: Churches of East Anglia Norfolk.  Accessed on May 23, 2025. http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/houghtonshrine/houghtonshrine.htm

Five Years On: Revisiting the Attributed Arms of Black Lives Matter

The revised attributed arms for Black Lives Matter
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

A few years ago I learned an important truth about the power of a 13th century abstract form of identification enjoys well into the modern age...but first let's revisit the year of 1963.

On what could only have been a horrendously humid and hot day on August 23, 1963, Washington, DC must have been a powder keg ready to explode as The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) took to the podium addressing a sea of sweaty hungry souls.

There on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. King delivered what history has deemed one of the great masterpieces of rhetoric, his famous, "I have a dream," speech.  Dr. King's words echo across our great country today:

"So even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

"...I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.

"...And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, Black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last" (Talk of the Nation, 16 January 2023).

His dream has become the dream of millions worldwide, as communities everywhere continue their own struggles for civil rights in the modern age. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself re-engaged with heraldry thanks to quarantine.  I took several years off in order to focus on my doctoral program, and felt a wee bit rusty on the subject. I decided to take the plunge and convert my Anglo-Catholic blog to a heraldic research one.  Now, that's a pivot!  

A graffitied rendering of the attributed arms of Black Lives Matter
posted on Reddit and sent in by a reader.

Simultaneously, America was once again electrified, on the brink of major social change.  The Black Lives Matter movement was working to wake our Nation from slumber, calling on citizens everywhere to live out Dr. King's hallowed words.  

I had an idea, a way to show not only my support for the movement and need for change, but to see if heraldry's power of abstract symbolism holds meaning in the 21st century.  I sketched a design for a coat of arms attributed to Black Lives Matter, and posted the arms on my blog in a show of solidarity.  Click here to read the original post.   In my mind, this was Kingdom Theology at work. 

___________________

Sidebar.  What's that?  Kingdom Theology is an Anglo-Catholic framework or lens through which one sees virtually everything, the "already, but not yet."  The Kingdom of God has come, Jesus proclaimed in the Gospels, but the heavenly realm has not yet been fulfilled.  Thus, we have lots of work to do living in these between times.  Click here to read a reflection I delivered on the topic as a seminarian.

___________________

Something good went viral.

  

Unknowingly, the online heraldry community took notice and I began receiving digital emblazonments of the arms.  Since those were the days of pencil and paper for me, I was amazed at the power of color in heraldry.  I was speechless!  I added a subsequent post to share the illustrations I received.  Click here to read the second post on the attributed arms of Black Lives Matter.

Attributed arms of Black Lives Matter designed by Chad Krouse
Rendered by Dimitri Prica, 2022

I felt the need to commission a digital version myself and turned to Dimitri Prica.  Click here to read my feature on Prica's heraldic artwork.  Yes, it is true, fame fizzles in seconds, and within a handful of days all went quiet regarding my post.

Flag and arms of Black Lives Matter
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Five years on, I've revisited my design and appreciate what I attempted to pack in those arms.  Since then, I feel as I though I've grown a bit in my understanding of heraldry and its design.  Today, I want to share my final version of the attributed arms in hopes to keep alive the cause of equal rights and the ongoing work of Black Lives Matter.

Graphic unpacking the design rationale
Click image to enlarge
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The graphic above readily explains my revision and I believe is more fitting, reflective of my progress in heraldic design.  The 2020 version is not bad, I simply see a better vision for these arms.

Blazon for the 2025 revision for attributed arms of Black Lives Matter:  Gules masonry Sable, on a dove displayed Argent haloed Or an inescutcheon Sable charged with the fist of Black Lives Matter issuing from a celestial crown in base all Or.

Arms of Black Lives Matter within a bordure of the arms of the United States of America
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

To honor that day in August 1963 and Dr. King's extraordinary ability to bring together all Americans, I put together the rending above, placing the arms of Black Lives Matter within the bordure of arms of the United States.  

So, what exactly was that truth I learned?  When designs for arms are simple and its identification clear, heraldry has the carrying power through abstraction to convey meaning, especially when words fail us.  This truth, known by many in heraldry, is my foundation and guide.  I won't forget those brief moments in 2020.

Dreams can come true. 

WORKS CITED

Talk of the Nation (16 January 2023). Read Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech in its entirety.  National Public Radio, accessed May 19, 2025 https://www.npr.org/2010/01/18/122701268/i-have-a-dream-speech-in-its-entirety

Arms of Christ Church Philadelphia

Arms of Christ Church (Episcopal) in Philadelphia, PA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The coat of arms of Christ Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania are resplendent and richly identify this special parish community.  I recently found these arms as I continue my personal quest to discover sound heraldry in the Episcopal Church--I wanted to share right away.  To read other articles in the Recent Finds Series, click on the corresponding label at the end of the post.

According to Gough (1995), the parish arms were designed in the late 1950s by Dr. Harold Bowditch (1883-1964), a prominent member of the New England Committee on Heraldry.

Arms of Christ Church, Philadelphia
Source: Gough (1995), pg 372

The arms as illustrated above from Gough (1995) give us a lot of information for constructing a blazon; however, the tinctures for the field and mitre are but a guess at this point sans hatching.

We do learn a bit regarding Bowditch's rationale: the crossed swords reference the Diocese of London, three plates on a black fess for the founder of Pennsylvania William Penn (1644-1718), and the mitre for Bishop William White (1748-1836), first bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania.

Bowditch clearly followed the framework for corporate heraldry Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) used consistently throughout his heraldic work.  In the arms of Christ Church, we have geographical identification (Penn) tied together with historical references for both colonial (London) and diocese (White), and designed in the simplest form possible.  Bingo!

Azure or Gules for the field?
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I chose red for the field based on the Diocese of London reference; however, most arms dedicated to Christ Church in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition use blue owing to the arms of Canterbury Cathedral.

My blazon for the arms of Christ Church, Philadelphia:  Gules, two swords in saltire Argent hilt and pommel Or ensigned by a miter Proper debruised by a fess Sable thereon three plates.

The color blue works just as well.  I'll update this with any new information.  

WORKS CITED

Gough, Deborah M. (1995). Christ Church, Philadelphia: The Nation's Church in a Changing City. University of Pennsylvania Press, pg 372.

Recent Finds Special Edition: The Arms of Christ Church Cathedral

Arms of Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

It began as a flag.  A recent search online yielded the most exciting image, one I've yet to encounter--a parish flag.  Usually, it's the other way around for me, translating a coat of arms into a flag.  Not this time.  So the Recent Finds Series now adds another special edition post highlighting this hidden gem.  To read other articles in the series, click on the corresponding label at the end.  

The new flag of what was then Christ Church parish (now cathedral) was unveiled in the Spring of 1921 and illustrated in The Living Church.  

The Parish Flag of Christ Church
Image source: The Living Church (1921 May 21), 91

Even more exciting, at least to me, the article names the designer along with a brief rationale.  Did I mention the hatching too?  Huzzah!  I cannot express how thankful I was to have all this data in one place.  Again, most unusual.

The Rev. Henry Martyn Medary (1871-1962), an Episcopal priest in Pennsylvania was responsible for creating this gorgeous ensign for Christ Church.  The crispness of Medary's design is equal to his rationale:

"Its field of gold corresponds with the field of the arms of Wisconsin. A large red cross cut through the field symbolizes the name of the parish, Christ Church.  Four 'fountains' (discs with white and blue waves) suggest the rivers on which Eau Claire is situated, and also the meaning of the word, 'Wisconsin,' which is supposed to stand for 'wild rushing channel.'

"In the center of the cross a gold fleur-de-lis indicates the early French settlers of the state. Through the arms of the cross run two 'pales raguly,' heraldic symbols for timber, suggesting the lumber industry upon which this portion of Wisconsin grew up" (The Living Church, 21 May 1921, 91).

The blazon I offer for the arms of Christ Church Cathedral in Eau Claire, WI:  Or, between two pales raguly Vert debruised in fess a cross throughout Gules thereon a fleur-de-lis of the field between four fountains.  

I turned to Pierre de Chaignon la Rose's (1872-1941) blazon constructed for the arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Quincy as my guide.  Click here to learn more about the arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Quincy.  

Armorial flag and coat of arms of Christ Church Cathedral in Eau Claire, WI
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I wonder if Medary was closely following la Rose's work?  I suspect so, or at least Medary was a student of heraldry.  I've yet to encounter another designer's work produced at la Rose's level this early in the 20th century.  Whenever I would discover a coat of arms dated between 1910-1940 without attribution for its designer, I would proudly say, "no one else [except la Rose] was capable of this work at such-and-such a time in the US."  Thanks to Medary's gift of ecclesiastical heraldry in 1921, I no longer speak those words.

Medary was a member of the Diocese of Pennsylvania's committee responsible for proposing a seal and coat of arms back in 1902-1904.  Since la Rose designed the Diocese of Pennsylvania's arms, Medary would be quite familiar with his work.  Nonetheless, Medary would continue to make several heraldic contributions to advance sound heraldry in the Episcopal Church. 

Carpeting behind the main altar inside Christ Church Cathedral, Eau Claire, WI
Image source:  Cathedral Facebook page

My search for evidence to see if these arms are presently used produced one artifact--and I had to squint in order to catch it too.

On a carpet behind the cathedral's main altar is an embroidered image of the coat of arms.  The image of the arms on the carpet is the only rendering I could find online.  Perhaps the cathedral community is unaware of their arms so beautifully arranged and published 104 years ago?  Surely not!

The armorial flags of the Episcopal Church and Christ Church Cathedral in saltire
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I believe this may be the first instance these arms have been digitally rendered in full color.  Simply lovely. 

Works Cited

The Living Church. (1921 May 21). A parish flag. The Living Church, 65(3), 91.

Recent Finds Series: St. Paul's Church By-The-Lake

Arms of St. Paul's Church By-The-Lake (Episcopal) in Chicago
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

A recent discovery online and worthy of sharing, the coat of arms of St. Paul's Church By-The-Lake in Chicago, Illinois.  In my ongoing challenge to seek and find heraldry in the Episcopal Church to better understand how the American heraldic tradition has been shaped, as well as to prove this ancient art is alive and thriving in the US today, the arms of St. Paul's Church By-The-Lake came as a pleasant surprise.

To read other articles in the Recent Finds Series, click on the label at the end of the post.

One immediate observation was the parish arms completely avoid any use of the attributed arms to Saint Paul.  The seemingly use of the reverse pall cross to show unification with the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago is another feature rarely seen in parish arms.  In this article, I'll cover both the arms of the parish and those of the diocese as well.  

Side by Side Comparison:  Arms of the Diocese of Chicago and St. Paul's Church By-The-Lake
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The parish arms make effective use of geographical identification using barry wavy in base for what I could only see as a reference for Lake Michigan.  The sword provides the only reference to Saint Paul with stark simplicity.  The parish arms are simple and clear; heraldry at its best.  As of now, I do not know who designed the arms for the parish.  Hopefully, we can learn in time.  

Current logo in use by the parish
Image source: Parish Facebook page

Several renderings of the parish arms have 1) the sword with hilt to chief/point to base, and 2) the field behind the sword is a lighter blue than the barry wavy in base, likely for contrast.  The current logo seen above omits the barry wavy altogether.  

Without a blazon, I used artistic license for simple corrections to match carvings of the arms found in the sanctuary.  To me, the carvings appear correctly rendered.

Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago (pre-1919)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago were designed by Ralph Adams Cram (1863-1942) and adopted by the see in 1904 (Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, 1904, 29-31).  

La Rose's proposed revision
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Cram's heraldic partner, Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) would later critique the design in Cram's own journal, Christian Art.  La Rose (1907) writes:

"Chicago. Gules, on a pairle reversed azure fimbriated argent, between three crosses-crosslet of the last, as many fleurs-de-lis, the two inferior ones chevronways, or; on an inescutcheon or a phoenix gules.

"This shield - a beautifully balanced design seems to me a trifle too elaborate. Furthermore, because of the position of the inescutcheon, it is under suspicion of being a compound coat. By raising the inescutcheon in chief one may, to be sure, destroy some of the beauty of the composition, but the shield will become unassailable on the score of heraldic logic and grammar, which is not quite the case at present. The seal of the diocese has three objectionable features among the external ornaments of the shield. It places a motto upon the fanons of the mitre, a procedure for which I can find no heraldic precedent (furthermore, no bishop ever went about with a motto hanging down his back, attached to his pontifical head- gear) . It shows a doubly warded key a corrupted form for two keys.  And it displays a sword, to which, as an external ornament, neither diocese nor bishop has the least right. 

"I know that as the cathedral is dedicated to SS . Peter and Paul, it was thought that in this way the seal might honour both of these saints.  But a sword used as an external ornament to episcopal arms has, heraldically, nothing whatever to do with St. Paul, but denotes solely that the bishop possesses the feudal jus gladii, a right which the bishops of Chicago do not possess. The sword should be removed from the seal as an impropriety. Taken in conjunction with the inescutcheon as at present placed, it would seem to indicate that the bishop, in addition to his episcopal state, sets up to be also mayor or high sheriff of Chicago" (66-67).

Note the blazon cited above is la Rose's interpretation and not official.   

Cram did not relent and his design remained.  I wonder just what kind of friendship these two had, after all they did a lot of work together over the years.  Perhaps Cram chalked it up as la Rose simply being himself.  A good friend, I gather, knows the difference.

Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The blazon for the arms of diocese, however, were never officially recorded when the see adopted arms in 1904.  Any heraldry enthusiast knows that the blazon is of paramount importance.  Some 15 years later, the question of the diocese's blazon would finally be settled.

"Unfortunately, the 'blazoning' of the seal was not recorded at the time [1904 convention], and in order that there may be no doubt as to its proper coloring, the remaining members of the committee ask to have the correct description, as given by Mr. Cram, entered in the Journal.

"Blazoning of the Seal:--Arms: On a shield, gules voided argent, between three crosses crosslet, argent, a pall reversed, azure, voided argent, bearing three fleurs-de-lis or.  On an inescutcheon, argent, a phoenix rising from the flames, gules" (Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, 1919, 61). 

As far as I can tell, the codified blazon contains two major changes:  1) the addition of a silver outline within the shield, and 2) changing the metal on the inescutcheon from gold to silver.  Frankly, silver works much better with the inescutcheon.  I cannot, however, explain the silver outline or its importance.

Chicago and the backstory of all her heraldry forever maintains a prominent place in the American heraldic tradition.

To learn about the saga surrounding the arms of the University of Chicago, click here.   Don't forget the Catholics!  The story of the Archdiocese of Chicago's arms and its foundations can be found here.

Works Cited

Episcopal Diocese of Chicago (1904).  Journal of the proceedings of the sixty-seventh annual convention of the Church in Chicago.  Diocese of Chicago, 29-31.

Episcopal Diocese of Chicago (1919).  Journal of the proceedings of the eighty-second annual convention of the Church in the Diocese Chicago.  Diocese of Chicago.

La Rose, Pierre de C. (1907).  Ecclesiastical heraldry in America, II. Diocesan arms.  Christian Art, 2(2).

Recent Finds Series: Arms of Roman Catholic Parishes

Arms of Pope Leo XIV and various US Catholic parishes
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

In honor of Pope Leo XIV's election, I'm sharing several recently discovered arms for US Roman Catholic parishes found online.  

Arms of Pope Leo XIV
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Middle Row (L-R):  St. Rose of Lima, Haddon Heights, NJ; Sts. Peter & Paul, West Chester, PA; and St. Margaret's, Rumford, RI

Bottom Row (L-R):  St. Francis of Assisi, Jefferson, NC; St. Anne, Hampton, NJ

Below are my three favorite arms from this group.

Arms of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, West Chester, PA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The coat of arms of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in West Chester, PA differenced their arms with a new color scheme and I believe the green really pops here.  Using a silver chain to link the two gold keys adds a nice detail too.

Arms of St. Margaret's Catholic Church, Rumford, RI
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025 

By switching the cross's color from red to black makes a striking difference in the arms of St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Rumford, RI. 

Arms of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Jefferson, NC
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Lastly, the coat of arms of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Jefferson, NC are lovely canting arms with the Tau cross and knot from the arms of US President Thomas Jefferson.  Brilliantly designed!

If The Mitre Fits

The arms of The Rt. Rev. Peter Eaton, Bishop of Southeast Florida
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I'm rolling out a new mitre as an external ornament for arms of dioceses and bishops.  With a distinctive Anglican aroma, I figured it was time to try and customize my own version to use.  Above are the personal coat of arms of The Rt. Rev. Peter Eaton, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, featuring the new episcopal hardware.  Earlier this past winter, I was blessed to attend mass at Sewanee celebrated by Bishop Eaton who is simply an outstanding liturgist and pastor.  So, the good bishop was on my mind.

The arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The mitre traditionally used to ensign such ecclesiastical arms is the mitra preciosa, adorned with jewels and other intricate details.  Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) made prolific use of the mitra preciosa, which he modeled on those found in the 1515 roll of peers at the College of Arms in London.  His version can be seen below.

Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Often incorrectly attributed, the arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany were designed by la Rose and adopted by the diocese in 1931 (The Living Church, 29 August 1931, 603).  Even today, the diocese still illustrates its coat of arms capped with la Rose's version of the mitra preciosa.  He designed the arms for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany as well--the city was home to the la Rose Family. 

I wanted the new mitre to have a 3D effect whereby the hat is turned slightly towards one side, giving the viewer a fuller glimpse of the front and back.  Additionally, I wanted the infulae, or lappets, to appear as unfolding with their creases in tacked and flanking both sides of the escutcheon.  I opted to add a dark red trim to help provide visual contrast.  I will admit that the colors clash depending on the arms they ensign.  The clashing problem will need to wait for now.

  

The arms of the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Since I was recently working on a project and needed to render the arms of the Diocese of West Virginia, I show them here topped with the new mitre.  I am conflicted about West Virginia's arms and truly wish something more unique could be created.  It is my home after all. 

Below are a few select examples.

The arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The arms of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I think the mitre looks perfect on the arms of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast.  The diocese's coat of arms were designed by Dr. J. Waring McCrady (b. 1938) and adopted in 1971.

The arms of The Rt. Rev. William K. Crittenden
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The personal coat of arms of The Rt. Rev. William K. Crittenden (1908-2003), Fifth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Erie, were designed by The Very Rev. Frederic R. Murray (1910-1996) who served as Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral during Crittenden's episcopate in Erie.  Always good to design arms for your boss.

The arms of the Province of Canterbury, Church of England
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The arms of the Episcopal Church
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Playing with the trim color to solve my color clash issue, and perhaps this scheme of going darker with gold will work.  Knowing myself, I'll likely continue to tweak and refine things over time.

Works Cited

The Living Church (29 August 1931).  Heraldic arms for the Diocese of Albany.  The Living Church, 85(18), 603.   

Mary's Month: House of God, Gate of Heaven

The Walsingham Throne supporting the coat of arms of the College of Guardians
Created and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The month of May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and time to tackle a project that's been marinating in my head for some time.  I have always wanted to see if I could render the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham to serve as the signature image for the blog.  Well, inspiration finally came today and the winds took me in a different (and better) direction up north to Canada.

The Canadian Heraldic Authority (CHA) does a rather cool thing when granting arms to Anglican cathedrals within its jurisdiction.  The very word cathedral means cathedra, or seat of the bishop, from which derives all episcopal authority, and when it comes to expressing this concept abstractly through heraldry, the CHA developed a concept which creates immediate identification.

A cathedral's coat of arms are placed upon a throne, or cathedra, which is used as the supporter for the arms.  Rather clever!  I'm guessing that each supporter is modeled on the actual throne in each cathedral.  The throne supporter visually sends a message that these arms are different.   

The coat of arms and supporter of St. Paul's Cathedral
in Regina, Saskatchewan
Granted by the Canadian Heraldic Authority 1996

The image above illustrates CHA's concept.  The coat of arms of St. Paul's Cathedral in Regina, Saskatchewan, rest upon the throne with a motto placed below on a ribbon.  Above the arms of the cathedral on the tympanum are those of the Diocese of Qu'Appelle.  By placing the arms of the corporate sole at the top, an abstract relationship between the two coats of arms can be discerned--the arms of the diocese seem to visually claim this cathedra for the ordinary of the diocese.

I followed the same framework.  Seated upon Mary's throne rests the coat of arms of the Guardians of the Holy House of Walsingham (Anglican Shrine) between seven gold rings for the seven sacraments.  The idea was to make the throne--as depicted at the Anglican Shrine--function as the supporter for the arms. 

Arms of the Roman Catholic National Shrine and Basilica of
Our Lady of Walsingham
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

In the absence of arms of a corporate sole for the Anglican shrine (at least to my knowledge), I used the undifferenced arms of the Priory of Walsingham along with a celestial crown to top things off.  The motto below was granted to the Guardians along with their arms from the heralds' college in 1945.  The Guardian's motto in Latin, Domus Dei Porta Caeli, translates as "House of God, Gate of Heaven." 

Click here to learn more about the arms used by the Roman Catholic National Shrine and Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham and my proposal for a revision.   

I love Canadian heraldry and a proud member of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada.  Some of the most original and creative charges, lines of division, and overall designs continue to spring from the heralds there.

Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us.

The Arms of St. Norbert's Abbey at 100

The coat of arms of St. Norbert's Abbey in De Pere, WI
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

When my research on Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) led me to St. Norbert's Abbey in De Pere, Wisconsin, I began learning about the first religious house established by the Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré in the US.  I am most appreciative of the Norbertines' assistance in finding documents in the archives related to la Rose's work designing the abbey's coat of arms.

By shear coincidence, the Norbertine community in De Pere was preparing for its centennial celebration, marking 100 years since its elevation to an abbey in 1925.  As a result of my inquiry, I was invited to write a brief article on the coat of arms for Abbey Magazine which circulates to approximately 14,000 friends and supporters of the De Pere community.  Scroll to the bottom of the post to read the article.

Given the space constraints for the article, I'm expanding here so as to complete the story of these Norbertine arms.  

The Abbey

The arms of St. Norbert's Abbey and its college
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The new elevation from priory to abbey would cause new heraldic ensigns to be created, as I don't believe the priory used arms.  For this commission, la Rose created three coats of arms for the new abbot's consideration: 1) the personal and impaled arms of the abbot, the new arms for the abbey, and a proposed coat of arms for the college.  

In March 1925, la Rose wrote to Abbot Bernard H. Pennings, O.Praem. (1862-1955) in response to the abbot's submission of a few designs rendered by members of his community.  La Rose held nothing back.

"I do not find any of the designs which you have been good enough to send me acceptable heraldry, for reasons which I will try to explain... 

"The modern notion, which dates from the rapid decline of the art in the 17th century and later: that a coat-of-arms should be in more or less symbolic terms, a moral portrait of its owner, or in the case of an ecclesiastical coat, should even declare its owner's religious programme, etc, etc, is wholly erroneous.  

"The arms of your own venerable Order are a case in point: they declare in themselves or express absolutely nothing. They are simply the personal arms of Saint Louis, which he himself permitted as a special royal favor to the Order, to bear, differentiating the coat from his own by the addition of two croziers diagonally crossed" (La Rose letter to the Right Reverend Father Abbot Pennings, March 21, 1925). 

The coat of arms of the Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré (modern)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025 

In a sense, la Rose's argument regarding the order's arms is legitimate, as the arms lack any bespoke identification reflecting the Norbertines.  There is another version of these arms whereby the fleurs-de-lis are arranged in semme with the crossed croziers overall.    

The blazon for the arms of the Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré (modern):  Azure, two croziers in saltire with crooks outwards between four fleurs-de-lis all Or. 

The shear used as a charge
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Since la Rose believed the arms of the order to be insufficient for his design, he turned to St. Norbert himself for inspiration, appropriating the heraldic shear as one means of identification.  More detail about la Rose's rationale for the abbey's arms is covered in the article below.

The coat of arms of St. Norbert's Abbey in De Pere, Wisconsin
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The blazon for the arms of St. Norbert's Abbey:  Argent, a cross saltire between as many shears all Gules on a chief Azure a crescent of the field between two fleurs-de-lis Or.

Now at the ripe age of 100 years old, the coat of arms of St. Norbert's Abbey illustrate what la Rose called "carrying power" for those arms illustrating sound heraldry.  In other words, good heraldry will pass the test of time.

Unification & Differencing

Unification and differencing in arms for Roman Catholic
religious communities
CLICK TO ENLARGE
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

In response to the proposed designs sent by the abbot which included mottoes below the shield as well as designs for the college arms, la Rose addressed those points by sharing  the rules for illustrating unification and differencing in arms for Roman Catholic religious communities.  The graphic above summarizes la Rose's points in simple terms.

Proposal for St. Norbert's College

The unadopted arms proposed for St. Norbert's College in De Pere, WI
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

La Rose's third proposal for the abbot's consideration were arms for St. Norbert's College, a foundation of the newly elevated abbey.

La Rose continues in his letter to Abbot Pennings:

"Now for St Norbert's College, these arms again should be sufficiently differentiated from those of the Abbey to prevent the least visual confusion- but should also show a close relationship.  One of the most frequent mediaeval practices was to "difference" two similar shields by a change of color. 

"Therefore, while retaining the distinctive design of St.Norbert's heraldry, I have changed the colors into the green and silver now (I gather from the letters you sent me) used by the College. 

The open book inscribed with Euntes Docete ("Go and Teach") for St. Norbert's College
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

"I have retained the blue chief of the Abbey arms, but changed it now with an open book, the symbol most common traditionally to academic arms, thus indicating St. Norbert's College. 

"And as an open book, even in heraldry, normally bears a short legend on its pages, I have inscribed them with the Euntes Docete, which, although it should not be used as a "motto" on a ribbon beneath the shield, may with perfect heraldic propriety appear in its present position- or it may be replaced by any other brief legend that may seem desirable" (La Rose letter to the Right Reverend Father Abbot Pennings, March 21, 1925).

La Rose moved the proposed motto from the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20,  Euntes Docete ("Go and Teach) from an external ribbon and inscribed an open book to use as the chief for St. Norbert's College.  For one reason or another, la Rose's design for the college would not be adopted.

The blazon for the unadopted arms of St. Norbert's College:  Argent, a cross saltire between as many shears all Vert on a chief Azure an open book bound and edged with two clasps Or thereon EUNTES DOCETE.

St. Norbert's College Today

(L-R): The coat of arms of St. Norbert's College and Berne Abbey in The Netherlands
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

St. Norbert's College bears its own coat of arms as seen above, the inspiration for those arms came from the Norbertine's Berne Abbey located in Holland.  Why?  The founders of St. Norbert's in De Pere, Wisconsin originated from Berne Abbey and showing this historical connection must have been viewed as important to the designer of the college's arms (St. Norbert College, 1989).

"Berne Abbey took its coat of arms from Fulco of Berne who gave his castle to a group of religious.  The Norbertines were the first permanent occupants, and Berne Abbey was the last of the Norbertine abbeys founded by St. Norbert himself.  

"Fulco's coat of arms had alternating stripes, three red and three blue, with eight scepters superimposed. The eight scepters indicated that Fulco was related by eight lines to the Emperor of the Holy Roman empire...the Dartmouth colors of green and white for the alternative stripes, and gold for the scepters were adopted" (St. Norbert's College, 1989).

The rationale for the college's arms comes from a pamphlet found in the college archives and linked below.  I created the following two blazons:

The blazon for the arms of St. Norbert's College:  Argent, three bars Vert overall an escarbuncle of eight points each ending with a fleur-de-lis Or.

The blazon for the arms of Berne Abbey:  Azure, three bars Gules overall an escarbuncle of eight points each ending with a fleur-de-lis Or.

Abbey Magazine

Finally, here's my brief article in Abbey Magazine, Spring/Summer 2025.  It might be necessary to pop out the article into a larger window for the document to reload.

Works Cited

La Rose, Pierre de Chaignon (21 March, 1925).  La Rose letter to the Right Reverend Father Abbot Pennings.  Unpublished.

St. Norbert's College (1989).  The coat of arms of St. Norbert's College.  Archives Publications. 6. 

https://digitalcommons.snc.edu/digitalarchive/6/