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| Arms of Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) in Eau Claire, Wisconsin Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025 |
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.
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.
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| The Parish Flag of Christ Church Image source: The Living Church (1921 May 21), 91 |
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.
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| 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.
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| 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!
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| 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.
The Living Church. (1921 May 21). A parish flag. The Living Church, 65(3), 91.Works Cited
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