More Bars 'n Stars in Virginia

More stars 'n bars from the Washington arms in Virginia
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

George Washington:  first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countymen.  Also, first to have his coat of arms changed up in virtually every way possible.  However, the two coats of arms that I found online today are truly quite tasteful and fitting.

The coat of arms of Washington County in Virginia
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The County of Washington is located in the southwest area of Virginia with its seat being the City of Abingdon.  According to the Washington County Historical Society, the county's board of supervisors officially adopted these arms--within a seal--on January 4, 1978. 

The coat of arms of Washington County Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The Washington County Virginia Chamber of Commerce clearly followed in the Board of Supervisors' footsteps by adopting its differenced coat of arms and replacing red with blue.  Simple.  Is the color change sufficient enough to avoid infringing on the established Washington arms?  I'll leave that answer to the reader.

I do appreciate, however, the intention to show unification of the county's chamber with the county itself.  After all, it's good for business!

Recent Finds VIII

Recent finds of arms for parishes in the Episcopal Church
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

More finds from the internet of coats of arms for parishes in the Episcopal Church that I recently emblazoned.  I found these arms to be well designed and meaningful symbols of identification for these faith communities.

The coat of arms of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Henderson, KY
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Henderson, KY managed to successfully difference the attributed arms of St. Paul with the addition of waves in chief.  The Ohio River runs next to Henderson and the waves in chief become a fitting symbol for geographical identification.

The coat of arms of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, League City, TX
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The lighthouse is another Christian symbol for St. Christopher, and when placed on the blue canton of the base arms of the Episcopal Church, these arms make for a perspicuous design.  Well done.

The coat of arms of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Cambridge, MA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The arms of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Cambridge, MA incorporated the knifes from the saint's attributed arms in a clever way making a unique coat for the parish. 

The coat of arms of St. John's Episcopal Church, Youngstown, OH
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

St. John's Episcopal Church in Youngstown, OH, while using the attributed symbol for St. John, managed to difference their arms by placing St. John's symbol on an inescutcheon on top of a cross formy with the addition of a compony bordure.  Quite unique parish identification.

The coat of arms of St. James Episcopal Church Eufala, AL
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

St. James Episcopal Church in Eufala, Alabama took the attributed coat of arms for St. James and added a sword in pale to difference the arms.  Clever!

The coat of arms of St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Providence, RI
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The coat of arms of St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Providence, RI incorporate several elements--anchor for the state and the crozier and tower for St. Martin of Tours--in a beautiful and harmonious design.

The coat of arms of St. Mark's (Episcopal) in Philadelphia, PA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

St. Mark's parish on Locust Street in Philadelphia bear arms following a popular design with the red cross of St. George in base and using the chief for differencing.  Dialing in the winged lion was a fun challenge.

The coat of arms of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Houston, TX
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Placing stones between the fretty design in the coat of arms of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Houston, TX was pure genius.  I believe the open books on the bend must represent the Bible, and in triplicate, the Holy Trinity.  This design was clearly created by someone who knew what they were doing.  A beautiful and meaningful design.

Recent Finds VII

I had this vision in my head for a lion bishop
Created and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

A lion bishop?  Well, of course!  Anything is possible in the world of heraldry!  I had this vision in my head with the lion wearing a mitre and cope and bedazzled in all the episcopal finery possible.  Voila!

...and the finds keep coming!  Here's a quick post with some interesting US corporate heraldry found online recently and then rendered by me.  

The coat of arms of St. James Episcopal Church Prouts Neck, ME
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The coat of arms of St. James Episcopal Church Prouts Neck in Maine successfully avoided the old "2 and 1" with escallops.  In the absence of any known blazon, I'm guessing the escallop here would be proper.  Green is an entirely appropriate tincture for the State of Maine. 

The coat of arms of St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church Hollis, NY
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

"Hail Mary, full of grace the LORD is with you," proclaimed the angel Gabriel.  The coat of arms of St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church in Hollis, New York successfully ties together the herald's trumpet with the angel's wings.  I'm still trying to track down, however, if this coat is the attributed and undifferenced version for St. Gabriel.  Regardless, the design works.  My only question is why is there no geographic reference--which leads me to believe these are the attributed arms.  

The coat of arms of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Barre, Vermont
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025 

Vermont continues to keep things interesting and the coat of arms of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Barre, VT are quite lovely if not unique to say the least.  These arms were a fun puzzle to solve.

The coat of arms of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (left) and Anderson University (right)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

In 2021, Anderson University in South Carolina officially adopted a coat of arms as seen above.  The university is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and I wonder if the bordure was intentional--matching Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's arms.  Either way, I appreciate this thematic approach by our Protestant sisters and brothers.

The coat of arms of St. Paul Seminary (Roman Catholic) in St. Paul, MN
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The coat of arms of St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota carries forward the barry wavy in base which is featured in the arms of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis along with its cathedral, the Basilica of the St. Mary.  Additionally, the seminary's arms avoid the undifferenced and attributed version of arms while providing unique geographic identification as well as unification.  Score!

Recent Finds Part VI

Arms recently found on the web and digitally emblazoned, legend below
by Chad Krouse, 2025

For part six of recent finds, I am sharing a few scholastic coats of arms recently found online.  While I was familiar with the arms of Gilman School and Indiana University, the others were new.  I know I've written before about this point, however, it is a universal truth that the artistic rendering of a given coat can only serve to enhance the beauty and effectiveness where blazonry ends.  The ensigns of the two aforementioned academic institutions never stirred much within me;  I saw those arms as interpreted by the artists who rendered them.  Well, today my mind has changed.  I love the arms of Indiana University (as I interpreted them ha!).  

First Diagonal Row (Top-down):  The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a coat of arms presently unknown, and Middlesex School;

Second Diagonal Row (Top-down):  The Masters School, University of Indiana, and Gilman School 

The coat of arms of Indiana University
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

In 1962, Indiana University officially adopted a coat of arms designed by Ade Bethune (1914-2002) who immigrated to the US from Belgium and became a highly skilled liturgical artist in the Catholic Church.  The blazon for the arms of Indiana University:  Gules, on a sun in splendor Argent an open book with four clasps edged of the field. 

Coat of Arms unknown at present
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Loved this design immediately but could not identify it!  One source suggests that these arms are from the US Hospital Auxiliary and used as an award of sorts.  Another source points to the military--the three white stars on a blue field would support that theory.

Blazon:  Argent, on a cross throughout Gules an open booked edged with two clasps Or inscribed Pro Patria et Ecclesia on a chief Azure three mullets of the field.

The coat of arms of Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Rendering the arms of Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY was a fun break from some of the more traditional divisions in the field.  A simple and clean coat of arms.  My blazon for the arms of Masters School:  Or, on a triangle throughout void of the field Purpure an open book edged with three clasps Argent thereon inscribed Do It With Thy Might.

The ribbons hanging from the pages are bookmarks and a first for me in rendering them.

The coat of arms of Gilman School in Baltimore, MD
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Founded in 1897, Gilman School in Baltimore would adopt its coat of arms in 1907, representing an early adopted among US academic institutions before the arms race of the 20th century took off.  Gilman School's coat of arms were designed by faculty member Hamlet S. Philpot who taught Greek, Latin, and history.  The arms are incorporated in the school's seal which has seen a few revisions during its lifetime.  The school's archives present this timeline better that I could, so please click here to see how Gilman School's arms and seal has evolved. 

Recent Finds Part V

US civic coats of arms discovered on the Internet (legend below)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
Click image to enlarge

In the ongoing "recent finds series," I've decidedly gone in a new direction in search of US civic coats of arms to render and share.  I was rather surprised by the number of arms used by cities in Rhode Island, and I may need to devote a whole post to those designs.

Top Row (L-R):  City of Austin (TX), City of Saco (ME), and Warwick (RI)

Middle Row (L-R):  Crozet Civic Association (VA), Smithfield (RI), and Warren (RI)

Bottom Row (L-R):  Lincoln, North Providence, and Tiverton (all RI)

Arms of the City of Austin, TX
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I had no idea that the City of Austin used arms, and rather simple ones too.  While the overall design incorporates colors/elements from the state flag of Texas, I believe the gold lamp is a reference to the city being a seat of learning with UT Austin located there.  

Arms of Crozet Civic Association (Crozet, VA)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Quite literally in my backyard, the Crozet Civic Association adopted the arms of Crozet for which the town near Charlottesville is named for in 1996.  The arms are simple and lovely.  Read more about these arms by clicking here.

Arms of the City of Saco, ME
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The arms of Saco, Maine are also simple and lovely, incorporating the chevron from the state's namesake Sir Fernado Gorges, and pinecones from the evergreen tree emblazoned on the state's arms.

Arms of Lincoln, RI
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Lastly, I want to highlight the arms from Lincoln, Rhode Island which incorporate in base the cross of St. George and fleur-de-lis from its namesake Lincoln in England.  I've been there!  The chief provides the differencing by incorporating an axe to play on Abraham Lincoln.

Recent Finds Part IV

I will freely admit to having way too much fun hacking my way through the jungles of the Internet in search of good heraldry for US corporate arms.  So far, I've been holding strong with the Episcopal Church, and I've collected 96 designs for cathedrals, parishes, and a few schools.  It has been a welcomed break from my usual la Rose research and I am learning a lot as I attempt to emblazon many of those arms I find. 

For today's installment, I have nine arms of Episcopal parishes to share.  I'm now having a hard time deciding which ones to post--I have a lot!

Coats of arms of various Episcopal parishes in the US
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
Click to enlarge

Top Row (L-R):  St. Matthias (Athens, TX), Christ Church (Pelham, NY), and All Souls (Okinawa, Japan)

Middle Row (L-R):  St. Martin's (Metairie, LA), St. Mark's (Perryville, MD), and Trinity Cathedral (Little Rock, AR)

Bottom Row (L-R):  St. Margaret's (Inverness, FL), Trinity Fort Worth (TX), and St. Giles (Jefferson, ME)

Arms of St. Matthias Episcopal Church (Athens, TX)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Making this tomahawk-like hatchet was fun and these arms are based on the attributed arms of St. Matthias and differenced by the hatchet.  My guess is that the design of the axe is a geographical reference for a First Nations tribe in the Athens, Texas area.

All Souls Episcopal Church (Okinawa, Japan)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Coming all the way from Okinawa, Japan, the arms of All Souls Episcopal Church are simple and lovely.  The arrangement of the doves is the "attributed" symbol for All Souls and can be found in various arms.

Arms of St. Martin's Episcopal Church (Metairie, LA)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I've added St. Martin's in Metairie for their simplicity.  Again, based on St. Martin's attributed arms and then overlaid upon a bordure of St. George to emphasize the parish's Anglican roots.  

Arms of St. Giles' Episcopal Church (Jefferson, ME)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I could only find a line drawing for the arms of St. Giles in Jefferson, Maine, but thankfully it contained hatch marks.  These playful arms incorporate both Maine and references from the saint's attributed arms.

There's more!  I'm beginning to think about what I can do with all these arms and data.  Nothing to announce yet, but definitely the wheels are turning.

Recent Finds Part III

Coat of arms, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge, LA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Finding well done US corporate heraldry on the Internet continues to inspire me--it's somewhat coincidental that the majority of arms found are from parishes in the Episcopal Church.  I will change up my keyword searches for some variety down the road.  I've included a few of my favorites from the latest batch which I've rendered, staying as faithful as I can to the images in the absence of blazons.

First up, St. Luke's in Baton Rouge.  For St. Luke's the "bordure" is the Diocese of Louisiana.  Clear, clean, and well done heraldry.  

Coat of arms, Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, Thomaston, ME
Rendered by Chad Krouse

The coat of arms of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist in Thomaston, Maine was a fun discovery.  It's a coastal town, hence the fountain and the use of the Amalfi cross for John the Baptist is spot on too.  A lovely and simple design.   

Coat of arms, St. James Episcopal Church, Zanesville, OH
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The coat of arms of St. James Episcopal Church in Zanesville, Ohio avoided the traditional arrangement of three escallops, opting for one shell charged on a sword.  I think the sword references the city's role in hosting scores of Union troops during the Civil War.

Coat of arms, St. Peter's-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Bayshore, NY
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

One more red shield, but oh boy it's a good one.  The coat of arms of St. Peter's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Bayshore, NY nailed it by using the traditional crossed keys of St. Peter in an original way.  In fact, I would venture to say that this may be the best heraldic identification for a parish dedicated to Peter that I've seen. 

Coat of arms, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Walla Walla, WA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Here's another splendid variation on a saint's attributed arms--the coat of arms of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Walla Walla, Washington.  I'm guessing with the Columbia River nearby, the barry wavy readily explains itself as does the sword in pale with point to base (for St. Paul).  Original heraldry!

Coat of arms, Christ Church, Pelham, NY
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The next two examples are rather interesting.  The arms on the left for Christ Church Pelham, NY can be seen in one of the parish's stained glass windows; however, a processional banner and current wordmarks show the arms on the right.  My guess is that the canton was not popular enough to stand the test of time.  

Coat of arms, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Southern Pines, NC
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The exact same issue occurs with the coat of arms of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Southern Pines, NC.  The arms on the left can be found in one of the stained glass windows of the church, in addition to a processional banner actively used!  I believe the stained glass version includes the Blessed Virgin Mary and Christ child in pale.  Yet, the arms on the right are used in marketing word marks to identify the parish.  I believe the flowers are dogwood flowers--the official flower of the State of North Carolina.  However, without a blazon, its anyones guess.  Still, nice arms.

Both of these latter examples show how two parish coats of arms have seemingly evolved over time--likely those rendered in stained glass were the original arms only to be amended in time.  Why?  Possibly due to a parish leader's belief that "more" is needed in the design in order for the arms to be "more" dignified.  Both arms in stained glass, in my opinion, are perfectly acceptable.  

Recent Finds Part II

Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and its cathedral
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

As I keep coming across good heraldry found online, I've taken up the challenge to render and post here for the sake of preservation.  First up, the arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas--not a new coat to me but its cathedral, Christ Church is a new one.  I like the simplicity of the cathedral's design, especially by carrying the diocese's star over and placed in dexter quarter to show unification.  The designer of the cathedral's arms, unknown to me at present, clearly knew what they were doing.

Arms of Christ Church Cathedral Houston, TX
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Blazon for the arms of Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, TX:  Argent, on a cross throughout Azure the Greek monogram for Christ (I and X) paleways Or in dexter quarter a mullet Azure.

Arms of Boutetourt Press Williamsburg, Virginia
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Here's a corporate coat of arms, those of Boutetourt Press located in Williamsburg, Virginia.  While not found on the Internet, these arms grace the dust jacket of my copy, "Hark Upon the Gale," a pictorial history book on the College of William & Mary.  I'm drawn to these arms because they are simply brilliant for a press to bear and use.  

Arms of Zion Episcopal Church, Manchester, VT
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Creating the fretty for the arms of Zion Episcopal Church in Manchester, Vermont was quite the challenge for me.  But...see how the fretty in base creates the image of a six pointed star, or the Jerusalem star?  Brilliant!

What I believe to be the arms of St. James Episcopal Church, Hendersonville, NC
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The arms for St. James' in Hendersonville, North Carolina were discovered carved in relief on the parish's sign.  The three golden escallops were easily identifiable and the fretty design was also visible.  As to the tinctures/metals?  The top of the fretty was painted red, so the base has to be a metal.  I tried gold and the shells truly became lost due to the field's powerful color.  So, I used Argent.  Who knows which is correct at present?

Arms of All Saints Episcopal Church, Palo Alto, CA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I like how the semy plays on the celestial crown which customarily represents "all the saints."  I think these arms were designed by The Rev. Ekford Dekay.  

Arms of All Saints Episcopal Church Peterborough, NH
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The coat of arms of All Saints Episcopal Church located in Peterborough, New Hampshire were quite fun to recreate.  The image I found for the arms was rather small and I believe the charges between the canton's chevron are estoiles.  Moreover, there's a lot of symbolism packed into this design.  I fully suspect Col. Harry D. Temple (1911-2004) designed these arms.  The bordure contains the arms of the Diocese of New Hampshire to show the parish's unification and the canton refers to the arms of the Earls of Peterborough--argent, a chevron between as many estoiles sable.

Recent Finds

Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Every now and then I stumble upon a rather attractive coat of arms from an unknown designer living on the Internet or social media, providing its owner with a dignified symbol.  It so happens that the four designs I rendered and posted above are ecclesiastical coats from parishes in the Episcopal Church.  When the subject of heraldry in the Episcopal Church emerges, we find ourselves in the lawless deserts of the wild west.  Truly, and I mean it, anything goes...or rather seems appropriate to adorn an escutcheon.  

The other ironic feature of these four coats of arms is the clear theme of barry wavy.  Additionally, my study of these four proves once again that a decent emblazonment makes all the difference.  The modernization of these designs leave much to the imagination...Nonetheless, I am committed to preserving good corporate heraldry in the US, regardless of the designer.

Coat of Arms, St. Patrick's Episcopal Church Brewer, Maine
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

St. Patrick's Episcopal Church bears a lovely coat of arms with striking originality.  My favorite design of this set.  I only wish there was some form of geographical identification incorporated into the design--absolutely illustrate the dedication of the parish but don't go overboard!  I chose to use an ancient Celtic crozier rather than some shiny new crook.  The symmetry of the snake's head facing dexter with the crook to sinister works nicely I think.

Coat of arms, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Branford, CT
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Coat of arms, Grace Episcopal Church, Massapequa, NY
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Coat of arms, Trinity Episcopal Church, Galveston, TX
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I'll keep hunting for more.  These designs give me hope and prove that there is such a thing as good American heraldry.

Two late comers, but worthy nonetheless...

Coat of arms, Church of the Holy Trinity, New York, NY
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025 

Coat of arms, Christ Church Alexandria, VA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025