Arms for an Episcopal Priest

The personal arms of the Rev. Garron Daniels, OCS impaled with the new arms of his parish
Both arms designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Recently, I had the privilege for the first time to design arms for an Episcopal priest.  Not only was I able to convince this cleric to assume personal arms, I was able to design arms for his parish church too.  The illustration above shows this new heraldic relationship by impaling the arms of the rector with those of his parish.  

I'm honored to share my design of a coat of arms recently assumed by the Rev. Garron Daniels, OCS. 

Click here to learn more about the newly assumed arms of the Episcopal Parish of Alton.

The newly assumed arms of the Rev. Garron Daniels, OCS
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Arms: Argent, on a fess Sable two Mayflowers (epigaea repens) Argent barbed Vert charged with a fleur-de-lis Azure debruised by a pile Azure thereon a dove descending Argent haloed Or;

Motto: Dum Spiro Spero, Latin, “while I breathe, I hope.”

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 Mayflowers 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 (OCS).  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, black and white cords pendant with a single tassel follow the guidance set forth in the Earl Marshal’s Warrant of 1976 which codified the use of ecclesiastical hats in the arms of clergy in the Church of England.

Designer: Chad M. Krouse, EdD Richmond, Virginia

Date: 10 January 2025