New Arms for the Episcopal Parish of Alton and its Rector

The newly adopted coat of arms of the Episcopal Parish of Alton
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

It is quite humbling when someone compliments your art work; even more so when it becomes the identity of an entire community.  I am thrilled to share the newly adopted coat of arms for the Episcopal Parish of Alton in Alton, IL.  The Rector is a dear friend and I wanted to help as he establishes his new ministry as Rector.  Somehow, I managed to convince him to adopt arms too.

Following the framework for corporate heraldry used by Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941), the design for these arms came readily to mind--my own mental "refrigerator test."  In other words, when I struggle to construct a coherent design, I know the time isn't right just yet.  On the other hand, there have been many instances when the design becomes immediately clear to me--those designs are the best.  The arms of the Episcopal Parish of Alton came to mind rather quickly, a positive indication for a prospective coat of arms.

Infographic from the proposal
Click image to enlarge

In a nutshell, la Rose's goal in creating corporate arms was to layer as many references identifying the owner while keeping the design simple and clear.  One charge--or in "la-Rosian" style, charge-on-charge--could combine multiple references to the corporate body without fuss.  

Since the Episcopal Parish of Alton combines two historically independent parishes, St. Paul's and Trinity, I knew there was a solution honoring the heritage of both while creating something new in the process.

The blazon I landed on seemed clear and reasonable to me.  It combined references to the dedication of both parishes with the sword in pale for St. Paul and three paddle wheels for the Holy Trinity.  Moreover, the chevron makes a nice image of two separate sides coming together at one point, and I felt satisfied in honoring the two communities.  The paddle wheels and barry wavy lines on the chevron reference the parish's location along the Mississippi River and honors local history.  

The blazon for the arms of the Episcopal Parish of Alton: Gules, a sword in pale Argent point to base hilt and pommel Or debruised by a chevron barry wavy Argent and Azure fimbriated Or with three paddle wheels of the field.

Applications for Identity 

Example of business card

Example of letterhead

I wanted to design a simple word mark incorporating the new arms to help reinforce its use within the daily life of the parish.  For example, the two images above show the coat of arms and word mark used to create official parish stationary, such as business cards and letterhead.  

Armorial flag, processional banner, and seal designed
for the Episcopal Parish of Alton
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Countless applications come to mind for the new arms:  coffee mugs, lapel pins, automobile stickers, tee shirts, and the list of merch goes on and on.  Because these files are rendered in vector, the sky is the limit for adding this new dignified decoration to almost anything.  

Cover page of the proposal
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I believe it is critically important that all members of the corporate body have the ability to inhabit their organization's coat of arms--be that on a Christmas ornament or cufflinks, owning a piece of the corporate brand only serves to strengthen and sustain it. 

This was a fun project for me and I'm delighted that the parish will use these designs in one way or another.  I am thankful that I can begin to share my work freely for good use.  My goal is to help smaller parishes either adopt new coats of arms to be used as branding, or help update current digital assets with vector files for use in social media, web design, and so on.  The rationale is that these faith communities would likely not spend money on this sort of project--I've found my niche for ministry and a special way I can serve.  

New Coat of Arms for the Rector

The coat of arms of The Rev. Daniels,
Rector of the Episcopal Parish of Alton
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Not only was I able to have my first parish coat of arms adopted, I designed arms for the Rector too.  

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, “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 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.

Date: 10 January 2025

The cleric's arms are ensigned by a black galero, cords alternating white and black, and ending with one tassel to indicate his priestly office.  As a guideline, I followed the Earl Marshal's Warrant of 1976 which authorized clergy in the Church of England to ensign their arms with ecclesiastical hats following a prescribed "annex schedule."  To read the Earl Marshal's Warrant of 1976 regarding the use of ecclesiastical hats, click this link to view the document on the College of Arms website.

To view illustrations by rank/office from the College of Arms, click this link for the College of Arms website.