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."

The Arms of the Order of St. John

The arms of the Order of St. John.
Click to enlarge.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Since this summer, I've wanted to try my hand at rendering all the arms associated with the Order of St. John--the various priories around the world and so forth.  Well, project completed!  

I made this image to be poster size coming in at 16 inches x 20 inches and includes the coats of arms for the Sovereign Head, the Grand Prior, the Order itself, the 11 priories, 5 commanderies, and the St. John Eye Hospital Group.

All of these arms were devised and granted by the College of Arms and have as their basis the following blazon:  Gules, a cross throughout Argent in first quarter a representation of the Sovereign's crest.  Usually in the English manner, the first quarter is likely the obviously placement for any marks of differencing but has already been claimed by the Sovereign's crest.  Thus, the heralds opted to use the honor point, or center, for adding differencing marks.

I've added a small selection of the various arms in the Order of St. John illustrating these differencing marks. 

The coat of arms of the Sovereign Head of the Order of St. John,
HM King Charles III.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The Sovereign Head of the Order of St. John bears unique arms reserved only for the Sovereign, His Majesty King Charles III.  In these arms, we see the Order of the Garter belt taking precedence over St. John's Amalfi cross and draped with the black sash and Sovereign's badge.  In chief, we see the arms of the Order of St. John, where unfortunately, the Royal crest gets shrunk way too much in my opinion.  

Still, however, I love how this rendering came together and strikes a regal note.

Arms of the Order of St. John's Eye Hospital Group.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The Eye Hospital Group features an abstract representation of an eye with the Amalfi cross in the center.  The rather intricate blazon was recently shared with me: "a voided and pointed Ellipse fesswise Sable enclosing a Pellet conjoined to a Decrescent and Increscent Vert throughout and charged with a Maltese Cross Argent."

Arms of the Order of St. John's Priory in Kenya.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms of the Priory of Kenya do not use a traditional European eschuteon but rather a native one which seems more appropriate.  The Priory's differencing mark also matches in shape and comes from the national flag. 

Arms of the Order of St. John's Commandery in Western Australia.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The Commandery in Western Australia features a black swan atop three lines of barry wavy.  

Top 10 Favorite Renderings of 2024

Contenders, but alas, not finalists for the top 10 favorite renderings.
Row 1 (L-R):  Trinity Washington University, Sisters of St. Augustine, St. Joseph's Academy
Row 2 (L-R): Mundelein College, St. Paul's Harvard Square, St. Peter's Abbey
Row 3 (L-R):  St. Peter's Seminary and the George Washington University
Arms rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Happily lost in the world of digital heraldry throughout the better part of 2024, I quickly noticed something surprising to my somewhat judgmental eyes which recalled an observation made by Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941).  To paraphrase the great American heraldic designer, la Rose posited as a blazon falls into the hands of an artist, the draughtsmanship ultimately renders the verdict on whether or not a coat of arms is both clear and perspicuous.  Not that I am by any stretch close to mastering digital heraldry, but it is evident that when certain design principles are followed a poorly emblazoned coat of arms can be transformed for the better.  

The other observation I've noticed from the artist's chair is consistency wins the day.  I've stuck to, more or less, the standard heater shield shape, bold colors, thick outlines, and no shading (only because I haven't learned that yet).  Looking back now on probably a hundred or so arms completed, I do find applied consistency in this particular art form is beautiful, especially when grouping together different arms.

So, from that large well, I am sharing my top 10 favorite renderings memorable in my learning process.  Enjoy!

Top 10 Favorite Heraldic Renderings for 2024

10.  St. Thomas Choir School

Arms of St. Thomas Choir School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

St. Thomas Choir School is a foundational school attached to St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue in New York City.  The design made the list for the very reason that my rendering of the open and inscribed book marked a first instance for me in going out on a limb and trying something new.  What was that?  Adding medieval style musical notes to help fill in space while also providing additional reference to the school's purpose.  

The school's arms were designed in 1963 by The Rev. Canon Edward N. West (1909-1990).

9.  College of Guardians of the Holy House of Our Lady of Walsingham

Arms of the College of Guardians of the Holy House of
Our Lady of Walsingham.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

O England's Nazareth!  All the world shall come to Walsingham.  If one were to name their heraldic blog in dedication to Our Lady of Walsingham, then it behooves the owner to get cracking on an emblazonment of those arms.  The primary obstacle in my way of rendering the College of Guardians' design was the Holy House found in dexter canton.  

If the reader only knew how many hours I spent trying every shortcut I could think of to nail that holy place!  When I finally admitted that I will need to begin from scratch things began to fall in place.  The Guardians' arms were granted by the College of Arms in 1945 and the blazon simply reads, "Argent, on a cross Sable five lilies slipped and seeded proper, on a canton Azure a holy house Or."  So, the artist is completely at liberty to design precisely the Holy House at Walsingham.  

My version of the Holy House at Walsingham.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I tried to keep everything symmetrical, clear, and avoiding too much detail in the composition of the Holy House as seen above.  Is it perfect?  Eh, no but represents some growth in this new medium.

8.  Princeton University 

Arms of Princeton University.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

When it comes to corporate heraldry, I'm reluctant to say whether or not a design is good or bad.  Why?  Because I know to those attached to the organization have a symbol they're proud of and represents them.  In the case of Princeton, however, I've never cared for the shield shape and rendering that dominates the university's symbolic representation.  Princeton officially adopted its coat of arms in 1896 and perhaps the shield's shape was meant to appear ancient and distinguished.  

Armorial flag of Princeton University.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

This rendering made me fall in love in with Princeton's simplicity in its design of arms.  Remember, Princeton's arms were assumed in the great American tradition just as those earlier Ivy League institutions devised their own.  

I say use the standard heater shield shape and join me in my new love affair of these arms!

7.  Woodberry Forest School (WFS)

Seal and arms of Woodberry Forest School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms of this Virginia preparatory school--much like Princeton--never wooed me in how the school presents them.  The eradicated pine trees were far too small in between a rather skinning chevron on the field.  Fill the field, I say, and be bold!  I would love to know who designed these arms and any rationale too.  My theory is that the chevron comes from the Walker arms honoring the school's founder while the three eradicated fir or pine trees create a cant or heraldic pun on forest.

The challenge of creating a seal with the arms while working in the school's motto was quite fun.    

Armorial flag of Woodberry Forest School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I was pleasantly surprised to see how lovely WFS's arms appear as an armorial flag.

When I applied my methods to WFS' arms, I loved the simplicity and plausible meaning of the design, earning it a spot on the 2024 top 10 list.

6. Lenox School

Arms of Lenox School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Lenox School's arms were an early favorite of mine designed by Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) in 1930.  Moreover, these arms brought me in contact with the school's active alumni association which still carries on Lenox's legacy in spite of the school's closure years ago.

The design is also a classic la Rose method of what I call an "Americanization" of arms from the old world, and in this design the arms of the Duke of Richmond and Lenox.  Given the volume of designs created by la Rose during his career, there's no wonder why he needed multiple methods of differencing his designs.  Click here to read more on Lenox's coat of arms.

5.  St Edward's Seminary  

Arms of St. Edward's Seminary.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

This Roman Catholic seminary in Washington State has long since closed its doors to priestly formation and barely one letter remains detailing la Rose's design for the school's coat of arms.  Preserving the design became an essential matter for me.  When I finished my first rendering I simply sat back and smiled--I dare felt as though I was the first person to ever see these arms in full color!  

I've since tinkered a bit and refined a few items as I've learned more about the design software; however, I still believe the arms have never seen color much less digitization.  A win for la Rose!

Click here to read more about St. Edward's Seminary arms.

4.  Undergraduate Residence Halls, The University of the South

Small selection of arms of various undergraduate residential halls at
the University of the South.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Around 2018, all the undergraduate residence halls at the University of the South located in Sewanee, Tennessee received their own armorial flags designed by Dr. J. Waring McCrady.  McCrady designed the arms for the university and its schools back in the early 1980s and these 19 designs are in some manner his magnum opus.

Well, I love a challenge.  McCrady's designs for the residence halls were purely done in flag form and I wanted to translate them into shields.  Moreover, no blazons could be found but save a layman's description of each in the University Archives.  From that sheet, I took up the challenge.

The arms of Dr. J. Waring McCrady of Sewanee, TN.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Above are a few of those designs that I really enjoyed putting together.  I found it particularly moving to render McCrady's arms as well, admiring the many contributions he has made both to the university and the field of heraldry.

3.  Hampden-Sydney College 

The arms of Hampden-Sydney College in various shield shapes.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms of Hampden-Sydney College, devised in 1976 by the College of Arms in London, caught my eye as an applicant to the school.  Upon admission, I became smitten and caught the heraldry bug.  The College's arms started it all for me!  

The armorial flag of Hampden-Sydney College.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Moreover, my first sketch for an armorial flag was for Hampden-Sydney in 2014, in pencil no less.  Then I could only dream of seeing a digital or even physical version of the flag.  I now have my flag flying from my front porch.  Being able to render both this past year was a real highlight for this proud alumnus.

Here's to "a glass of the finest."  Please click here to learn more about Hampden-Sydney College's arms.

2. The University of the South

The achievement of arms of the University of the South.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Again and again Sewanee's heraldry presented me with numerous challenges in rendering the various designs of the university.  Honestly, I put off working on this group until the very last to help keep my frustration at bay.  The Sewanee tressure and its many nuances took numerous tries, as I was being exacting in recreating it just as McCrady had done.  

The armorial flag of the University of the South.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I wanted to complete all of the university's assets that McCrady created--badge, crest, supporters, and so forth.  As I said I enjoy a challenge...My tressure breakthrough was an honest to goodness accident and led me to learn what a "clipping mask," is!  

The University Badge conceived by Dr. McCrady.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

To say I was over the moon once finished is an understatement.  Getting Sewanee's arms dialed in took a lot of time and patience.  

Please click here to learn more about Sewanee's heraldry.

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

Row 1 (L-R): Arms of the Order of St John and the US Priory.
Row 2 (L-R): Arms of the Priories of England and Canada.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

On 19 April this year I received the news of a lifetime when my name appeared in the London Gazette as newly appointed Member of the Order of St. John.  Truly, I was blown away and humbled by this high honor.  While I was naturally drawn to the chivalric and heraldic traditions of St. John, I also deeply appreciate the philanthropy and service we give freely in the order's name.

I wanted to render the arms of my priory here in the US using la Rose's style bald eagle in the blue roundel and see if I could make a contribution in this manner.  Well, it worked after numerous attempts.  And then as if to accept yet another challenge, I wanted to render all 11 priories and 5 commanderies of the Order across the globe.

And then I had an idea...

The arms of the Sovereign Head of the Order of St. John,
His Majesty King Charles III.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

A friend and colleague in the Order shared with me how the arms of the Sovereign appear for the Order of St. John, something I had never seen before.  Could I possibly recreate these arms?  I wanted to try!

And what a challenge it presented too.  Learning how to weave the Order of the Garter's beelt through the Order of St. John's eight-pointed cross was one challenge, and then trying to figure out how to create the sash and badge was another.  Above are the arms of His Majesty King Charles III as Sovereign Head of the Order of St. John.

The badge of the Sovereign Head of the Order of St. John.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Rendering the arms of the Order of St. John and those of the Sovereign Head and Grand Prior come in at number one for me as my favorite renderings of 2024.  

The armorial flag of the Order of St. John.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

In so many wonderful ways, these designs showcase my growth in learning digital heraldry and creative problem solving.  I've had a blast spending time will all the designs I've been fortunate to render and look forward to creating more in 2025.

Investiture: The Order of St. John

St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
Photo by the Author.

This past Saturday was an especially memorable one for me as I gathered with other Confrères from across the US Priory for our investiture into the Order of St. John.  The service of investiture and rededication is an annual event for the US Priory rotating through major metropolitan areas across the US each fall.  Fortunately, my favorite city was selected for 2024--New York City with St. Thomas Church hosting the service.

Our Lady of Fifth Avenue inside St. Thomas Church.
Photo by the Author.

I love St. Thomas for so many reasons, the liturgy, the boys choir, the architecture, and of course heraldry.  Most especially and most holy for me, however, is always lighting a candle at the shrine of Our Lady of Fifth Avenue asking the Blessed Virgin to intercede for me and my loved ones.   

Quiet moments before the service.
Photo by the Author.

One interesting bit of the service related to heraldry.  During the service the priory retired two banners which had the older Royal crest using St. Edward's crown and blessed two newer banners using the Tudor crown chosen by H.M. King Charles III.  

Arms of the US Priory, The Order of St. John.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The UK's Government recently posted a helpful lesson on the difference between these two crowns.  Please click here to learn more about the recent switch in crowns.

My decoration as a Member.

As luck would have it, St. Thomas had curated a special exhibit showcasing art in the service of the Lord through various media.

The parish's letters patent were on display.  The artist workmanship is exquisite. 

A new badge!

Father Andrew's cope resplendent with heraldry.

And as final course, I found an emblazonment of Bertram Goodhue's first design of arms for St. Thomas embedded in the floor of the narthex.  

Click here to learn more about the heraldry of St. Thomas Church.

Heraldry of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine

Arms of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

One of the world's largest cathedrals is quietly nestled in the upper west side of Manhattan. I remember my first visit there and simply wandering around, head fixed skyward, and in awe of the building's shear magnitude. The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine holds the cathedra for the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and bears unique arms which I wanted to recreate.

Banner of arms, the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The cathedral's arms are quite unique and make a clear Biblical reference to its dedication of St. John. 

The Rev. Canon Edward Nason West (1909-1990) was a canon of the cathedral and well versed in heraldry.  Canon West's arms are based on those granted to his mother by the College of Arms in 1951.

Arms granted to Isadora Angelina West by the College of Arms in 1951.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The blazon for the coat of arms for Isadora Angelina West was kindly shared by the Archives of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

Arms:  Per pale Argent and Sable, a fess dancetty counterchanged in dexter chief a cross couped Sable.

Crest:  In front of a plate a griffin's head erased Sable beaked and gorged with a ducal coronet Or.

Motto:  Trewest

Coat of arms of The Rev. Canon Edward Nason West (1909-1990).
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Among Canon West's many contributions, he created the "Anglican Compass Rose" as a image showing unity amongst the global Anglican Communion.  The center features the arms of St. George and encircled with the Greek inscription of John 8:32, "the Truth will set you free."

The Anglican Compass Rose was designed by West in 1954 and later embedded in the floor at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, as well as the National Cathedral in Washington, DC and Canterbury Cathedral in England.

The Anglican Compass Rose.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The Anglican Compass Rose was later rendered as a flag for the 1990 Lambeth Conference by The Rev. Andrew Notere.

The Anglican Compass Rose Flag.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

Make a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, I highly recommend it.