The Episcopacy and Personal Heraldry

The impaled arms of Bishop Peter Mews of Winchester
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Following my recent article regarding the personal coats of arms for members of the clergy below the rank of bishop in the Episcopal Church and Church of England, I am presenting a few examples of personal and impaled arms of bishops.  Click here to read my previous post regarding personal arms for the clergy in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition.  As the reader will see, I'm also playing around with various ribbons, legends, and mitre colors as I attempt to standardize diocesan arms.  Please bear with me! 

A few observations.  The arms I've rendered, interestingly enough, would be considered historical as these prelates have long since fulfilled their earthly ministry.  In my data of personal arms for bishops, I have but only one design for a present-day bishop in the Episcopal Church who bears these in addition to those of his see.  Perhaps the idea of having personal arms, much less displaying an impaled version, have become a relic of the past in the Episcopal Church.

Ensigning personal and/or impaled coats of arms of bishops with a mitre rather than a galero is an Anglican method used widely to this day.  While nothing prevents a bishop in the Episcopal Church from ensigning arms with the galero and pendant tassels, those arms would certainly stand out in a crowd of episcopal heraldry.

I liken this option to what can be seen in choir dress for bishops whose piety and theology is firmly rooted in the Anglo-Catholic tradition--while they might wear the rochet and chimere, a zuchetto finds its way into the ensemble.  In other words, without regulation for coat armor in the Episcopal Church, anything goes.  

The image above illustrates the impaled coat of arms of the Rt. Rev. Peter Mews (1619-1706) as Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of the Order of the Garter.  The arms of the See of Winchester are located in dexter (viewer's left) and Mew's in sinister (viewer's right).  The arrangement of corporate arms on the left (dexter) with personal arms located to the right (sinister) is the template for impaling ecclesiastical arms.  Translation to another diocese, thus, would only cause the dexter impalement to change as the prelate's personal arms typically do not.     

The blazon for the personal arms of Bishop Mews: Or, three bars Gules on a chief Azure three crosses crosslet Argent.  There is a version where the crosses crosslet in chief are rendered as gold (Or).  

Impaled arms of Bishop Thomas John Claggett
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025 

The impaled coat of arms of the Rt. Rev. Thomas John Claggett (1743-1816) as seen on a memorial plaque inside Canterbury Cathedral.  Bishop Claggett was the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland and the first to be ordained bishop on US soil.   

Impaled arms of Bishop Arthur Cleveland Coxe
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Zieber (1984) shares an illustration of the impaled coat of arms of the Rt. Rev. Arthur Cleveland Coxe (1818-1896), Bishop of Western New York and cites the blazon as, "Argent, a chevron Sable between three cock's heads erased proper" (p. 209).  The good bishop had canting arms, an abstract pun upon the surname and seen through the "cock's heads."

Historical coat of arms for the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The historical arms of the Diocese of Western New York, as far as I know, are the only ecclesiastical arms to incorporate a rainbow in the design.  The arms of the see have since changed.  Zieber (1984) provides the blazon for the Diocese of Western New York as, "Sable, a rainbow proper between three crosses Argent" (p. 209).  

Personal arms of Bishop Charles Todd Quintard
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The personal coat of arms of the Rt. Rev. Charles Todd Quintard (1824-1898) found in Zieber (1984), but without the chief of the Order of St. John (p. 210).  I omitted the chief so as to match the other arms without extra fussiness.

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

Quintard was a medical doctor and Second Bishop of the Diocese of Tennessee.  He is commemorated at my alma mater, The University of the South.

Personal arms of Bishop Edward Makin Cross
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The personal coat of arms of the Rt. Rev. Edward Makin Cross (1880-1965), Third Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane.  The arms are unusual but simple and clear at the same time.  It is interesting to see the pallium used as a charge, and my guess is that it was an attempt to show unification with the See of Canterbury.  I could be wrong.     

Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The arms of Episcopal Diocese of Spokane have evolved into its present day design.  Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1871-1941) created both designs for Spokane.  Click here for more regarding the story of the arms of the Diocese of Spokane.

Personal arms of Bishop James Henry Darlington
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The personal coat of arms of the Rt. Rev. James Henry Darlington (1856-1930), First Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Harrisburg, now Central Pennsylvania.  

Personal arms of Bishop Joseph Blount Cheshire
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The personal coat of arms of the Rt. Rev. Joseph Blount Cheshire (1850-1932), Fifth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina (Zieber, 1984, 211).

Personal arms of Bishop 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 (Erie, PA) during Crittenden's episcopate. 

Coat of arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Erie/Northwestern Pennsylvania
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Diocese of Delaware (1911) credits the Rev. Henry Martyn Medary (1871-1962), as designer of the arms for the Episcopal Diocese of Erie, later renamed in 1981 as the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Works Cited

Diocese of Delaware (1911).  Journal of the 125th convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Delaware.  Mercantile Printing, 22.

Pryor, M. (2018 October 16).  Heraldry brings Sewanee a sense of “community” for residence halls. The Sewanee Purple, https://thesewaneepurple.org/2018/10/16/heraldry-brings-sewanee-a-sense-of-community-for-residence-halls/

Zieber, Eugene (1984).  Heraldry in America.  Crown Publishers.

Personal Arms of the Clergy: A Study

Impaled arms of the Rev. Canon Edward N. West with
the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

For the longest time, I've been delaying any sort of work requiring the impaling (or marshalling) of arms.  Why?  I've simply never been much of a fan.  The symmetry is ruined; charges get distorted in order to fit into smaller areas and the whole design just looks muddled in my mind.  Well, I'm beginning to evolve on this very subject after finishing a study on several, forcing my hand to practice and learn.

This post will focus on several impalements for clergy below the rank of bishop in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition.  I have another article in the works concerning personal arms of bishops

Simply put, the practice of impaling arms for clergy is a way to illustrate both the cleric's rank and office.  Furthermore, the action of impaling two separate coats of arms shows a marriage of sorts--the cleric is "married" in a way to her or his cure.  

The galero, cords, and tassels (external ornaments) provide the viewer with the cleric's rank denoted by the color and number of tassels surrounding the escutcheon.  The office, more abstractly speaking, can be understood by the dexter (viewer's left) impalement of the arms themselves.  While the rank and office may change over time and reflected by different external ornaments, the personal arms in sinister (viewer's right) and the armiger's motto do not.    

Personal arms of the Rev. Canon Edward N. West
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Take, for example, the arms of the Rev. Canon Edward N. West (1909-1990) who served as Canon Sacrist, and had a stint as sub-dean, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.  As a canon, West was permitted to display three red tassels illustrating his rank.  Moreover, I believe Canon West held six doctoral degrees (earned and honorary), and is shown with red skein in the cords pendant from the galero.

For illustrative purposes only, purple cords reflecting
the rank of dean with red skein for the D.D. degree
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Finally, impaling the canon's arms with those of the cathedral he serves identifies the office.  If West was the dean of the cathedral, his cords would be purple with red skein for the D.D. degree.

Impaled arms of the Rev. Canon John G.B. Andrew, OBE with St. Thomas Church
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The personal arms of the Rev. Canon John G.B. Andrew, OBE (1931-2014) impaled with those of his parish, St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue in New York City, showing the same arrangement of three red tassels for a canon, but on a black and white cord based on one artifact I found.  Andrew was an honorary canon and held an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree--the armiger decides whether or not to show the red skein for the D.D. which in the US is an honorary degree.

Personal arms of the Rev. Canon John G.B. Andrew, OBE
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The black and white cords identify the armiger as a priest in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition.  Both Andrew's personal arms and those of St. Thomas Church were devised by the College of Arms (Andrew's was a grant of arms). 

Impaled arms of the Rev. Alfred Hope Patten with the College of Guardians
of the Holy House of Walsingham
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The impaled arms of the Rev. Alfred Hope Patten (1885-1958) are a bit unique.  Father Hope is commemorated as the restorer of the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in England.  While he was a priest in the Church of England, Father Hope was also the administrator of the Shrine and preferred two tassels indicating the rank of a dean in the Roman Catholic tradition.  

Click here to learn more about the arms of the College of Guardians of the Holy House of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Impaling Father Hope's arms with those of the College of Guardians of the Holy House of Our Lady of Walsingham shows his relationship as head--or dean--of the college.  Fitting and appropriate.  

Arms of the Rev. Alfred Hope Patten
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

In fairness to Father Hope, the schedule and use of ecclesiastical hats for clergy was not codified by the College of Arms until 1976.  Click here to see those renderings from the College of Arms.

Impaled arms of the Rev. Garron Daniels, OCS with those of Episcopal Parish of Alton
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I had the honor of designing both the personal arms of the Rev. Garron Daniels, OCS, Rector of the Episcopal Parish of Alton, and his parish.  As a priest, one tassel is pendant from the galero along with a cord of black and white indicating a presbyter in the Episcopal Church.

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

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

Father Garron's arms are blazoned:

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, “while I breathe, I hope.”

To help clearly illustrate all these differences, I've created a schedule which is more appropriate for use in the Episcopal Church.

Illustration of rank most appropriate for use in the Episcopal Church
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I'm beginning to get the hang of all this marshalling business, practice certainly helps.  

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 Our Lady of Walsingham--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 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, my answer:  no.  

Consider the following:

1. When the College of Guardians of the Holy House of Our Lady of Walsingham petitioned the College of Arms in 1945 for armorial ensigns, the arms were differenced from those of the Priory by adding a blue canton with 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: Arms of the Anglican Ordinariate in the UK and US
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The illustration above shows the arms of the Ordinariate in the UK (left) and in the US (right).  Below are the arms of the US ordinariate's cathedral in Houston, Texas, Our Lady of Walsingham Cathedral.  I placed the arms within a traditional arrangement for cathedrals using a mace and crozier in saltire.  I set the arms of the US Anglican Ordinariate within the crook for additional identification and decoration, and the whole ensigned with a bishop's miter and infulae draping to the sides. 

Arms for Our Lady of Walsingham Cathedral in Houston, Texas
Seat of the Bishop, US Anglican Ordinariate
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

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 Our Lady 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 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?  The desire for unification in arms (and certainly more widely for the Body of Christ) forms the basis of my proposal.

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

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!