Some Arms of Episcopal Seminaries

New poster of arms from Episcopal Seminaries (past and present)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
Click to Enlarge

I was recently inspired to tick off my list a few more coats of arms for seminaries of the Episcopal Church.  While there are a few others not represented here, my criteria was simply that armorial insignia needs to conform to established rules within heraldry.  So, no logos, no landscapes, etc.  Basically, when looking for the heraldry of Episcopal seminaries, this is pretty much it.  

Below are some of my renderings of a few emblazonments that can be difficult to find decent versions of on the web.

Arms of the General Theological Seminary
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I was fortunate to spend some time at General in the Chelsea area of Manhattan--a lovely, beautiful campus.  These arms were designed by The Rev. Canon Edward N. West (1909-1990) who was a talented liturgist, artist, etc. on the staff at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.  

Arms of Nashotah House 
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Nashotah House has a long tradition as an Anglo-Catholic seminary within the church and reflected in their coat of arms.  The lilies are for the Blessed Virgin Mary and the two fountains are geographical references as the seminary is located between two lakes in Wisconsin.  I don't know who designed these arms but they're simple and clear!

Blazon:  Gules, on a cross throughout Or a triple blossom lily between two fountains in chief. 

Arms of Bexley Hall 
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Lots to note here on arms of Bexley Hall designed in 1907-08 by The Rev. Canon Orville E. Watson (1857-1951), a professor at the seminary in Gambier, Ohio.  For a full analysis on the heraldry of Kenyon College and Bexley Hall, please click here.

Arms of the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Kentucky
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The Episcopal Theological Seminary in Kentucky operated from 1834-1990 as a diocesan seminary and used as the basis for their coat of arms those from the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington.  Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) designed the arms for the diocese around 1908.  The differencing mark for the seminary's arms was the addition of the lamp above the clasped hands.

Arms of Philadelphia Divinity School
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The Philadelphia Divinity School was established in 1857 and merged with Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1974 to create Episcopal Divinity School.  Simple and clear in design.  

Blazon:  Argent, a cross throughout Gules on a chief Azure three open books edged with three clasps Or. 

Arms of Episcopal Theological School
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Established in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1867, ETS was the predecessor school for Episcopal Divinity School (EDS).  In 1974, ETS merged with Philadelphia Divinity School to form EDS.  Another clear and simple coat of arms.

Blazon:  Argent, on a cross throughout Gules an open book edged Or inscribed Veritas et Vita.

Arms of Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Created by a merger of two seminaries in 1974, Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge harmoniously reflects their foundation in the seminary's coat of arms.

Blazon:  Gules, a cross parted fretty throughout Argent between four open books edged Or.

Of Bordures & Plates: Ecclesiastical Heraldry from Pennsylvania

A theme emerges from the Diocese of Pennsylvania!
Top: Diocese of PA, Washington Memorial Chapel
Bottom: St. Paul's Episcopal Church Chestnut Hill, St. George's Ardmore
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
Click to enlarge

Once I began to see this bordure theme emerging from several coat of arms that I've discovered recently, I had to share.  Of course, it all began with Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) and his commission for a seal and coat of arms for the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.

In 1906, the Diocese of Pennsylvania officially adopted its coat of arms designed by la Rose and blazoned: Argent, on a cross Gules three open crowns in pale Or a bordure Sable charged with eight plates.  These were early days for the up-and-coming designer and quite a coup to land such a commission.  The preceding year helped forge a heraldic path forward in the Episcopal Church after designing arms for the Diocese of Quincy, its cathedral of St. John, and the Diocese of Massachusetts.  By now, la Rose was certainly making a name for himself in the world of American ecclesiastical heraldry.

From the 1906 convention journal we learn the following:

"It was deemed wise to represent (1) England, of whose national Church our own is the offspring, and especially as the Episcopate derived from the English Church was first found in America in the person of Bishop White, the first Diocesan of Pennsylvania. (2) Sweden, whose people founded a number of parishes that are now the monuments of the early history of the Anglican Church in this State.  (3) William Penn, the founder of this Commonwealth, who guaranteed its religious freedom, and from whose followers many of the most devoted of the Church's supporters of later generations were, and are, descended.

"The Committee, therefore, presents for your considera­tion what, in the terms of Heraldry, would be described as 'Argent, on a cross gules, three open crowns in pale or; a bordure sable charged with eight plates. The shield ensigned with a mitre, and resting upon a key and crosier in saltire.' This means, as may be seen by reference to the drawing, a white shield, bearing a red cross, upon which appear three golden crowns; the whole surrounded by a black border with eight white (or silver) discs upon it.  

"Its significance may be described thus: The white shield, with its red cross, is the shield of Saint George, and stands for England and her Church. It is also distinctly ecclesiastical, and symbolic of the Christian faith.  

"The three golden crowns are the principal charge on the Arms of Sweden, and so proclaim the existence of the Old Swedes' Parishes that are scattered throughout the Diocese.  Finally, the black border, with its white discs, is taken from the Arms of the Penn family. In this instance it has been used as a border. not only for the purpose of decoration, but to distinguish it from the coats recent]y adopted by the Dioceses of Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, where the Penn charge is used in its original form.  

"The whole Coat of Arms, as thus proposed, is heraldic­ally correct, and seems to be satisfactory from a decorative standpoint, while, at the same time. to a trained herald, it tells its story without confusion" (Diocese of Pennsylvania, 1906, 144).

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

Through the see's arms, la Rose refined his ability to combine multiple meanings into one clear design--a skill he would master in time.

So, we now have bordures and plates galore!

Comparing the arms of Washington with Washington Memorial Chapel
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

In Valley Forge, we find a lovely coat of arms for the Washington Memorial Chapel which manages to really shake things up a bit with those old two bars and three stars.  Literally, just invert everything!  Blazon for the arms of the Washington Memorial Chapel:  Gules, two bars and in chief three mullets Argent a bordure Argent charged with eight pellets.

Arms of St. George Episcopal Church in Ardmore, PA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Another excellent example of our bordure theme with fantastic differencing can be found in the arms of St. George's in Ardmore.  Blazon for the arms of St. George Episcopal Church in Ardmore, PA:  Argent, on a cross throughout Gules a dragon fess ways armed and langued Vert pierced in the breast with the spear of St. Michael Or on a bordure Sable eight torteau edged of the field charged with a cross saltire Argent.  I would love to know the designer of these arms!

Arms of St. Paul's Episcopal Church Chestnut Hill
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

One late comer, but equally worthy, are the arms of St. Paul's in Chestnut Hill.  Again, excellent differencing and completely avoiding the use of Paul's attributed (undifferenced) arms.  Well done.  Blazon:  Azure, a sword in pale with point to chief Argent hilt and pommeled Or surmounted by an open book edged with three clasps Or thereon inscribed Spiritus Gladius on a canton Gules a lamb Argent a bordure Sable charged with eight plates.

Arms of Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Working on securing a blazon for the arms of Good Shepherd in Rosemont, a lovely coat of arms and a lovely parish!

Arms of the Philadelphia Divinity School
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Lastly, I stumbled upon a nearly extinct coat of arms, those of the Philadelphia Divinity School (PDS) which merged with Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  Lovely and simple arms, very similar to those Ralph Adams Cram designed for the Groton School earlier in the 1900s.

Blazon for the arms of the Philadelphia Divinity School:  Argent, a cross Gules on a chief Azure three open books edged with three clasps Or.

Comparing designs, L-R: Groton School, PDS, and Hodgson Hall (Sewanee)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Comparing the arms of PDS with two other known designs reveal similarities with nuanced differences.  The tincture of the chief, along with edging and number of clasps for the books, distinguish all three.  Groton's arms have a sword and crown on the cross.

The arms of Groton School (seen above on left) were designed in 1902 by Ralph Adams Cram (1863-1942) and  blazoned:  Argent, on a cross Gules a sword in pale with point to base hilt enfiling a crown Argent on a chief Sable three open books edged with two clasps Argent.

The arms of Hodgson Hall at the University of the South were designed by Dr. J. Waring McCrady in 2018 when he designed armorial flags for all the undergraduate residence halls at Sewanee.  While no official blazon can be found at present, here is our working one:  Argent, a cross Gules on a chief Purpure three open books edged with two clasps Argent.

Works Cited

Diocese of Pennsylvania (1907). Journal of the convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania. [Philadelphia]: Published by order of the convention. 144.

In Recognition of 'Good' Heraldry

Past recipients of the AHS Design Award
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
Click to enlarge

Of course good heraldry can be a rather subjective judgement.  I can hear a certain former mother-in-law exclaiming, "there's no accounting for taste!"  My philosophy of corporate heraldry falls into a transcendentalism world view rooted in the power we humans ascribe symbols for not just identification, but for representation.  More on all this later.  As such, I'm cautious to tear apart or degrade a coat of arms--regardless if I believe the design is efficacious or not--because someone somewhere believes to be represented by those arms.  So, I settle on whether or not a given design is clear and perspicuous, nothing more.  

In a sense, the American Heraldry Society believes something similar, accomplished through its Pierre de Chaignon la Rose Design Award.  Here's my write up for the award that I use for the election.

"Established in 2006, the Society's annual award is named in honor of Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941), the great American heraldic designer who led a revival in American heraldry during the early twentieth century.  The purpose of the award is to encourage and support excellence in American heraldry by recognizing coat of arms that provide the bearer with a strong public identity embodying the best heraldic design of the highest form, function, and aesthetic.

"Nominees for the award represent corporate bodies from academic, military, civic, religious, or social organizations whose coat of arms exemplifies the best in heraldic design. The arms must have been designed in the United States. The designs are nominated by the Society’s membership; finalists are selected by the Board of Governors."

Fairly straightforward.  To the point, I really like how we recognize those organizations proudly using their arms--most are rather surprised when they hear from us regarding such an award.  I think its important to provide education regarding sound heraldry by recognizing those designs selected by the Society.  Click here to see the AHS webpage for the design award.  

Recently, I was asked to render all the past recipients so that we could add all the arms to our new website and maintain a consistent design--see above!  Both la Rose and Col. Harry D. Temple have designs recognized by the award over the years.  One of my alma maters, The School of Theology at The University of the South received the award in 2024.  Click here to read about the 2024 recipient.  

Arms of the Gov. John R. Rogers High School ROTC
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The first recipient of the design award was Gov. Rogers HS ROTC, located in Pullyup, WA and whose arms were designed by the US Army's Institute of Heraldry in 1999.

Check out their blazon:  Celeste a pile reversed dancette of three the pale enhanced Argent below and between two demi-rams salient combatant armed and unguled Gold Brown

Arms of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The arms of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe received the award in 2009 , and were designed by Professor Brian Abel Ragen of Southern Illinois University.  The arms are blazoned:  Tierced in chapé Vert and Argent a bunch of roses Gules leaved and slipped Vert.

Arms of the San Francisco Fog Rugby Club
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Finally, a rather cool design, the arms of the San Francisco Fog Rugby Club received the Society's award in 2007.  I like how the nebuly sort of resembles the famous fog in the Bay area.  Designed by Pete Arden and blazoned:  Barry nebuly of six Argent and Azure, on a bend Sable three mullets of the first.

Arms for an Episcopal Priest

The newly assumed arms of an Episcopal Priest
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I'm honored to share my design of a coat of arms recently assumed by an Episcopal priest.  For privacy, let's just call him "Father Sam."  

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, Latin for, “While I breathe, I hope”

My version of a "library print" including the arms of the
cleric's seminary, diocese, etc.
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

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.  The external ornament of a black galero with a single tassel follows the guidance set forth in The Earl Marshal’s Warrant of 1976 which codified such use in the arms of clergy in the Church of England.

Designer: Chad M. Krouse, EdD of Richmond, Virginia

Date: 10 January 2025

Recent Finds Part III

Coat of arms, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge, LA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Finding well done US corporate heraldry on the Internet continues to inspire me--it's somewhat coincidental that the majority of arms found are from parishes in the Episcopal Church.  I will change up my keyword searches for some variety down the road.  I've included a few of my favorites from the latest batch which I've rendered, staying as faithful as I can to the images in the absence of blazons.

First up, St. Luke's in Baton Rouge.  For St. Luke's the "bordure" is the Diocese of Louisiana.  Clear, clean, and well done heraldry.  

Coat of arms, Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, Thomaston, ME
Rendered by Chad Krouse

The coat of arms of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist in Thomaston, Maine was a fun discovery.  It's a coastal town, hence the fountain and the use of the Amalfi cross for John the Baptist is spot on too.  A lovely and simple design.   

Coat of arms, St. James Episcopal Church, Zanesville, OH
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The coat of arms of St. James Episcopal Church in Zanesville, Ohio avoided the traditional arrangement of three escallops, opting for one shell charged on a sword.  I think the sword references the city's role in hosting scores of Union troops during the Civil War.

Coat of arms, St. Peter's-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Bayshore, NY
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

One more red shield, but oh boy it's a good one.  The coat of arms of St. Peter's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Bayshore, NY nailed it by using the traditional crossed keys of St. Peter in an original way.  In fact, I would venture to say that this may be the best heraldic identification for a parish dedicated to Peter that I've seen. 

Coat of arms, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Walla Walla, WA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Here's another splendid variation on a saint's attributed arms--the coat of arms of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Walla Walla, Washington.  I'm guessing with the Columbia River nearby, the barry wavy readily explains itself as does the sword in pale with point to base (for St. Paul).  Original heraldry!

Coat of arms, Christ Church, Pelham, NY
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The next two examples are rather interesting.  The arms on the left for Christ Church Pelham, NY can be seen in one of the parish's stained glass windows; however, a processional banner and current wordmarks show the arms on the right.  My guess is that the canton was not popular enough to stand the test of time.  

Coat of arms, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Southern Pines, NC
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The exact same issue occurs with the coat of arms of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Southern Pines, NC.  The arms on the left can be found in one of the stained glass windows of the church, in addition to a processional banner actively used!  I believe the stained glass version includes the Blessed Virgin Mary and Christ child in pale.  Yet, the arms on the right are used in marketing word marks to identify the parish.  I believe the flowers are dogwood flowers--the official flower of the State of North Carolina.  However, without a blazon, its anyones guess.  Still, nice arms.

Both of these latter examples show how two parish coats of arms have seemingly evolved over time--likely those rendered in stained glass were the original arms only to be amended in time.  Why?  Possibly due to a parish leader's belief that "more" is needed in the design in order for the arms to be "more" dignified.  Both arms in stained glass, in my opinion, are perfectly acceptable.  

Finding Patterns in Temple's Heraldry

Four ecclesiastical coats of arms by Col. Harry D. Temple
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
click to enlarge

Searching the Internet for what I deem to be "good" US corporate heraldry has yielded quite a few finds.  For this article, I want to highlight a few themes (or patterns) in the data so far likely identifying the designer.

Col. Harry D. Temple (1911-2004) was a proliferate heraldic designer in the Episcopal Church, active from the mid-to-late twentieth century.  While he was head of the US Army's Institute on Heraldry, he must have been a devout Episcopalian given the sheer volume of arms he produced for cathedrals and parishes.  To date, I've only discovered two coats of arms for Episcopal dioceses designed by Temple--Virginia and Georgia.  The Diocese of Virginia, however, plays an integral part in one theme under examination here.  

Coat of arms of Christ Church in Alexandria, VA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The chief of St. George, argent a cross throughout gules, is seen in two known arms by Temple as illustrated above in the top row--Diocese of Virginia and Christ Church Cathedral in Louisville, KY.  Two designs that I found recently play perfectly into this design scheme, St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg and Christ Church Alexandria, both in Northern Virginia.  In these two later coats of arms, we see Temple adding differencing marks in the chief for variation.  Due to Christ Church's geographic location in Washington, DC, the undifferenced arms of Washington are used in chief--kind of brilliant I think.

Blazon for the arms of Christ Church Alexandria:  Azure, three lymphads Or on a chief Argent two bars and three mullets in chief Gules. 

Coat of arms of St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg, VA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

St. James' avoids using the traditional three escallops and places one at fesspoint on the chief.  The checky base comes from the Lee arms to play on the geographic location of the parish    

Blazon for the arms of St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg, VA:  Checky Or and Azure, on a chief Ermine a cross throughout Gules charged at fesspoint with an escallop Or.  

I feel very confident attributing the designs of Christ Church and St. James to Temple--once a designer has developed her or his framework for illustrating unification and differencing, those designs tend to be repeated and variated throughout their work.  I learned this lesson through my research on Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941).

Another example of Temple's framework showing unification through the canton
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

Another example of Temple's framework for showing unification can be shown above in the arms of Augustine Parish (left) and Trinity Cathedral (right) in the Diocese of Easton.  

Temple's framework using the canton for differencing
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Temple also used the canton for differencing and/or to provide additional historical facts/names/etc. for the corporate arms in question.  Here we see (left) Cathedral of St. James in South Bend, IN, (center) St. Luke's Cathedral in Orlando, FL, and (right) the retired arms of St. Paul's Parish in Richmond, VA.

Likely another example of Temple's framework for unification
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Finally, I'm currently on the hunt for evidence to support my hypothesis that these two arms were designed by Temple.  First, the canton raised my suspicion followed by the "bordure" of the arms of the diocese where the parish is located--Central Gulf Coast (left) and New Hampshire (right).  The cantons, here, provide additional geographic references--the star for Texas and the chevron between three estoiles refers to the arms of the Earls of Peterborough.

I love finding patterns in data, especially in heraldry.  Yes imitations exist, but more often than not, a designer's framework is easily recognizable once understood.  More to come. 

Scouting Medals

Scouting medals earned by the author
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

One more off-topic post.  After I shared my renderings of various medals from orders and societies I belong to, a old Scouting buddy asked why not do Scouting medals as well.  Well, here goes.  Knowing the hard time I always get from this friend, I'll most likely get a "meh."

Above L-R:  Eagle Scout Award, God and Country (Episcopal), and the Kanawha Trace medal for completing the trail.

Kanawha Trace Medal
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Perhaps the unusual medal in the trio above is that of the Kanawha Trace.  Conceived in the 1950s, the Kanawha Trace is an incredible 31.68 trail located near Huntington, West Virginia as an hiking and backpacking outlet for Boy Scouts.  My Exploring Post was the inheritor of maintaining the trail and finisher medals were awarded to those scouts and explorers completing the trail.  My Eagle Scout project was even completed on the "trace."  I have lots of fond memories there.  Nowadays, there is a burgeoning trail running club hosting all manner of competitions along the Trace and keeping its pathways in constant use.  Please click here for more information on the Kanawha Trace.

BSA's Exploring G.O.L.D. Award
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Lastly, I've rendered the old Exploring G.O.L.D. Award which was phased out not long after I earned it in 1998.  The medal hangs from a white neck ribbon.  I received my Eagle Scout Award as an Explorer and received the G.O.L.D. Award during my Court of Honor.  

Recent Finds Part II

Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and its cathedral
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

As I keep coming across good heraldry found online, I've taken up the challenge to render and post here for the sake of preservation.  First up, the arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas--not a new coat to me but its cathedral, Christ Church is a new one.  I like the simplicity of the cathedral's design, especially by carrying the diocese's star over and placed in dexter quarter to show unification.  The designer of the cathedral's arms, unknown to me at present, clearly knew what they were doing.

Arms of Christ Church Cathedral Houston, TX
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Blazon for the arms of Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, TX:  Argent, on a cross throughout Azure the Greek monogram for Christ (I and X) paleways Or in dexter quarter a mullet Azure.

Arms of Boutetourt Press Williamsburg, Virginia
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Here's a corporate coat of arms, those of Boutetourt Press located in Williamsburg, Virginia.  While not found on the Internet, these arms grace the dust jacket of my copy, "Hark Upon the Gale," a pictorial history book on the College of William & Mary.  I'm drawn to these arms because they are simply brilliant for a press to bear and use.  

Arms of Zion Episcopal Church, Manchester, VT
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Creating the fretty for the arms of Zion Episcopal Church in Manchester, Vermont was quite the challenge for me.  But...see how the fretty in base creates the image of a six pointed star, or the Jerusalem star?  Brilliant!

What I believe to be the arms of St. James Episcopal Church, Hendersonville, NC
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The arms for St. James' in Hendersonville, North Carolina were discovered carved in relief on the parish's sign.  The three golden escallops were easily identifiable and the fretty design was also visible.  As to the tinctures/metals?  The top of the fretty was painted red, so the base has to be a metal.  I tried gold and the shells truly became lost due to the field's powerful color.  So, I used Argent.  Who knows which is correct at present?

Arms of All Saints Episcopal Church, Palo Alto, CA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I like how the semy plays on the celestial crown which customarily represents "all the saints."  I think these arms were designed by The Rev. Ekford Dekay.  

Arms of All Saints Episcopal Church Peterborough, NH
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The coat of arms of All Saints Episcopal Church located in Peterborough, New Hampshire were quite fun to recreate.  The image I found for the arms was rather small and I believe the charges between the canton's chevron are estoiles.  Moreover, there's a lot of symbolism packed into this design.  I fully suspect Col. Harry D. Temple (1911-2004) designed these arms.  The bordure contains the arms of the Diocese of New Hampshire to show the parish's unification and the canton refers to the arms of the Earls of Peterborough--argent, a chevron between as many estoiles sable.

Orders and Medals

The authors's medals for membership in various orders/societies arranged by prece
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
Click to enlarge 

I needed a break from shields, mottos, and the like.  I started thinking of a new project that would be quasi-heraldic and deeply personal, reflecting me.  Following my investiture in the Order of St. John this past fall, I've been awestruck since lost in disbelief that I would ever be worthy of such an honor.  The breast medal for my grade of Member is a constant reminder to serve all people--for the faith--and some days its hard to believe others thought so highly of me.  It is humbling.  Thus, that medal provided inspiration for my new project.  The spirit and intention is not to "peacock" my bling, but rather to challenge me in learning new design skills, etc.  So, this is not a bragging post!

On the advent of taking my first steps in the world of heraldry, circa 2011-2013, I began researching my family history as so much of it was unknown to me.  I wanted to learn whose footsteps were imprinted in my soul and share that with my children--sharing this story was everything to me.  While uncovering all manner of facts and legends, I wanted to somehow place a permanent marker in our timeline, documenting all that predated my existence.  Enter hereditary societies.  I knew nothing about this rather interesting world of genetically like-minded people whose ancestors' DNA and their human experiences created a common bond and medal to wear.

Nonetheless, these hereditary societies work assiduously preserving evidence-based family lineages focusing one theme or another.  This shared interest--documenting family lineages with the evidence--solved my problem of how to plant that familial stake in the ground while I still roam above it.  Thus, I "earned" a rack of medals.  

Precedence for ordering hereditary society medals is set by the founding date of the organization.  Highly recommend the Hereditary Society Community's website for any reader interested to learn about all of these groups.  Please click this link to see the medals/insignia for each society.

1. The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem

Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Medal of a Serving Member.  The Order of St. John, of course, is not a hereditary organization but an order of chivalry bound through the "fount of honor" the Sovereign Head, HM King Charles III.

2.  The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (1865)

Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

For ancestors who served as officers in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

3.  The Sons of the Revolution (1876)

Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

For ancestors who served the cause of freedom and fought during the American Revolutionary War.

4.  The Sons of the American Revolution (1889)

Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

For ancestors who served the cause of freedom and fought during the American Revolutionary War.

5.  The Hereditary Order of First Families of Massachusetts (1985)

Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

For ancestors who, "settled within the bounds of the Massachusetts Bay Colony before the year 1650."

6.  The Order of First Families of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation (1991)

Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

For ancestors, "resident on land presently a part of the State of Rhode Island

and the Providence Plantations prior to January 1, 1647-1648."