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Thursday, April 17, 2025

Heraldry for the Easter Triduum

Easter Triduum coats of arms
Ideas for incorporating heraldry during the Easter Triduum
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Entering the great Easter Triduum, or three days, leading to the Feast of the Resurrection, I wanted to create arms to mark each day as a way to incorporate heraldry into these high holy days.  I use the major theme(s) from the liturgies of the day to abstractly identify those corresponding coats of arms.

I'll let the reader decide if these designs make the grade.

Palm Sunday


Palm Sunday coat of arms
Palm Sunday coat of arms
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

As Palm Sunday has already passed, I'm adding my design for its coat of arms along with those for the Triduum.  While Palm Sunday is not included in the Triduum, Passion Sunday does kick off Holy Week as a major liturgy of the Church. 

Blazon for the attributed arms of Palm Sunday:  Gules, issuing from base three palms conjoined  Proper enfiled by a celestial crown Or.

Maundy Thursday


Maundy Thursday coat of arms
Maundy Thursday coat of arms
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Maudy Thursday kicks off the Triddum with the most unusual liturgy--foot washing, consecrating additional bread and wine for Good Friday, stripping the altar of all finery, and exiting in silence.  Typically, the reserved sacrament is moved to the altar of repose, and watched all night by the faithful gathered in prayer. 

For these arms, I wanted to illustrate both water and the Eucharist to commemorate what I believe to be the two major themes for the day.  

Blazon for the attributed arms of Maundy Thursday: Bendy sinister barry wavy Argent and Azure on a pale Gules a chalice Or ensigned with a plate charged with the monogram of the Holy Name Sable.

Good Friday

Good Friday coat of arms
Good Friday coat of arms
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Good Friday will always rekindle precious memories from seminary--watching and praying as Maundy Thursday moves into Good Friday.  I learned in those days the correct way of creeping to the cross.

Dividing the field "per pale" using white and black helped create the visual contrast I was seeking for arms marking Good Friday.  In some respects, the field division serves as that great veil between life and death, light and darkness, and so on.  Counterchanging the crosses and trimount in base help reinforce this theme too.  

Blazon for the attributed arms of Good Friday:  Per pale Argent and Sable, on a trimount in base a Latin cross palewise between two Tau crosses counterchanged.  

Holy Saturday


Holy Saturday coat of arms
Holy Saturday coat of arms
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Green can represent life and on Holy Saturday the faithful wait in certain hope for the coming resurrection.  The door of the tomb will be opened!  The white canton and red cross help indicate the coming joy of Easter--the cross can found in the agnus dei image as the Lamb of God holds a banner or pennon of the same design.

Blazon for the attributed arms of Holy Saturday:  Vert, a mounded cave faced with stones Proper charged with an opening Sable on a canton Argent a cross throughout Gules.  

The Great Vigil of Easter


Easter Vigil coat of arms
Easter Vigil coat of arms
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The paschal candle plays a central role during the liturgy of the Easter Vigil.  The candle is lit from the new fire and its flame shared with the congregation to light their own candles.  The Exsultet is sung, proclaiming our salvation history as the candle light grows.  "The Light of Christ," is chanted and responded with, "Thanks be to God."  

The paschal candle plays yet another role during the liturgy, albeit not a rubric one will find in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.  The bottom of the paschal candle is plunged three times into the water at the baptismal font prior baptism (or for simply blessing the water at the font) in a rather saucy but sacred act referencing the new creation made by God in baptism. 

A semme of stars against a dark shade of blue to represent the night sky helps showcase a representation of the paschal candle, and making the arms of the Easter Vigil simple and clear.  The four waxed nailheads surrounding the cross each contain a piece of incense. 

Blazon for the attributed arms of the Easter Vigil:  Azure, a semme of six-pointed stars Argent on a paschal candle issuing from base Argent enflamed Proper a Latin Cross points ending with four wax nailheads between in chief the Greek letters Alpha and in base Omega all Gules.

Easter Sunday


Easter Sunday coat of arms
Easter Sunday coat of arms
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The Day of Resurrection is the highest and holiest day of the liturgical calendar.  While this day can be represented by so many symbols, I wanted to design arms as simply as possible that could convey the importance of the day with as few charges as possible.

The blue pile appearing to issue forth from the empty tomb visually provides upward momentum made complete with a simple cross of gold.  Blue also helps reference the sky and the heavens too.  I thought these arms were rather striking and simple, which is exactly what I was seeking.

Blazon for the attributed arms of Easter Sunday:  Argent issuing from base a cave Proper charged with an opening palewise Sable debruised by a pile Azure charged with a Latin cross Or.

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Recent Finds Special Edition: Arms of St. Anne's Parish

Coat of arms of St. Anne's Episcopal Parish, Annapolis, MD
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
Founded in 1692, St. Anne's Episcopal Church located in Annapolis, Maryland proudly boasts more than 333 years of proclaiming the Gospel in North America and stands tall among the oldest houses of worship in the US.  There's loads of information online regarding St. Anne's history, so let's focus on its heraldry.

I want to especially thank Eric Fredland, the parish historian for St. Anne's Episcopal Church, for his corrections and insights regarding the parish arms.  

One of the more interesting coats of arms that I've discovered online during my search for corporate heraldry shaping the American tradition, are those of St. Anne's Parish.  These arms stand out boldly, much like a peacock.  Certainly not in a bad way, but rather unusual when compared to arms from its brother and sister parishes.  Then again, most of those faith communities have not been around for more than 300 years.  

The designer, a well educated cleric whose published extensively on American colonial Anglicanism, would abstractly combine parish history and its location to create these unique arms for St. Anne's.

St. Anne's banner led by the parish processional cross inside Washington National Cathedral
during an Acolyte Festival
Image Source: Washington National Cathedral Facebook page
The Rev. Canon Arthur Pierce Middleton (1916-2020) sounds like the perfect guest for a dinner party, given his wide range of life experiences.  Take a minute to read Bay Journal's article celebrating Middleton's life.  I wonder if its fair to say Middleton was living history?  One of his ancestors, after all, signed the Declaration of Independence.

Processional cross, St. Anne's Parish
Processional cross, St. Anne's Parish
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
According to Hjortsberg (2011), Middleton designed the coat of arms which St. Anne's formally adopted in November 1989.  The arms were created in anticipation of the parish's upcoming 300th anniversary celebration in 1992 (E. Fredland, personal communication, 12 May 2025).  Middleton found inspiration from the church's historical foundation which may explain the quarterings used from the arms of the Sovereign of England in his rendering.  

Furthermore, Hjortsberg (2011) notes that Middleton was well supplied with research assistance by Dr. A. Weems McFadden (1925-2010), a decorated US Naval officer and noted dermatologist.  The final product was a bespoke coat of arms reflecting the identity of St. Anne's, and altogether a highly researched design layered with meaning.  

Processional banner, St. Anne's Parish
Processional banner, St. Anne's Parish
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
The parish was founded during the reign of King William III and quarterings #1 and #2 reflect this special history.  Additionally, King William III gave St. Anne's Parish communion silver in 1695 which is still used today (E. Fredland, personal communication, 12 May 2025).  I dare say not a lot of parishes can tout such a royal gift.  Quarterings #3 and #4 are from the Calvert and Crossland arms used to identify Maryland.  

In summary, the quartered escutcheon abstractly identifies the owner as one who was founded during the reign of King William III of England and located in the Baltimore-Maryland region.  The chevron, ermine, and crown likely serve as sufficient differencing marks while reinforcing the parish's royal ties.  Another interesting fact is that Queen Anne provided a bell for the parish's original building (E. Fredland, personal communication, 12 May 2025).  

Shortened blazon for the arms of St. Anne's Parish in Annapolis, Maryland:  Quarterly; 1: France quartering Plantagenet (England); 2: Stuart (Scotland); 3: Calvert; 4: Crossland, overall on a chevron ermine an imperial crown proper.

Other arms found within Maryland illustrating various components of either Calvert or Crossland can be seen below.  
Examples of Episcopal Church arms incorporating elements from Calvert and Crossland
Click to enlarge
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
Top Row:  Episcopal Diocese of Maryland
Middle Row (L-R):  Trinity Cathedral, Easton and St. Augustine Parish, Chesapeake City
Bottom Row (L-R):  Emmanuel Church, Baltimore; St. Anne's Parish, Annapolis; Cathedral of the Incarnation, Baltimore

Pierre de Chaignon La Rose (1872-1941) designed the arms of the Diocese of Maryland and the Cathedral of the Incarnation.  Col. Harry D. Temple (1911-2004) produced arms for Trinity Cathedral in the Diocese of Easton and St. Augustine Parish.

Examples of Roman Catholic arms incorporating elements from Crossland
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024
The Archdiocese of Baltimore and Notre Dame University of Maryland are two Roman Catholic arms using elements of Crossland in their arms--both designed by la Rose.

Abstractly illustrating historical foundation, saintly dedication, and geographical location are critical elements when constructing new corporate arms.  To successfully combine these elements in the simplest and clearest manner possible, I am finding, demands practice and research.

The arms of St. Anne's Parish are a treasured example of sound heraldry in the Episcopal Church.    

Works Cited

Hjortsberg, Carol (ed.) (2011).  St. Anne's Annapolis: History and times, Vol. II.  St. Anne's Parish.

Sunday, April 13, 2025

Spokane's Evolving Arms

Arms of the Episcopal Missionary District of Spokane (Washington)
Arms of the Episcopal Missionary District of Spokane (Washington)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
Earlier this winter, I was fortunate to spend a few brief moments in one of my favorite libraries, DuPont Library, at my alma mater Sewanee: The University of the South.  During my days there as a seminarian, I would bounce from stack to stack pulling books whose titles caught my eye.  With my little pile of gems I would sit on the floor and take them all in.  I probably should have spent that time on homework, but looking back now I'm glad for those moments getting, "lost in wonder, love, and praise." 

The theological section contains virtually every diocesan journal and I had a list of arms that I wanted to get confirmation on while there.  Time was not on my side; however, I did manage to nail down a few.

The Episcopal Diocese of Spokane's coat of arms was one item on my list to research.  While I was aware of two designs that existed--the earlier version and a later revision--I could not track down their dates.   

(L-R): Arms of the Episcopal Missionary District of Spokane
Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
The illustration above shows the two designs that I referenced.  Both coats of arms were designed by Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941).  I was able to date the coat of arms on the left as being adopted in 1921 by then Missionary District of Spokane (Missionary District of Spokane, 1921).

In la Rose's initial design, we see the national colors of red, white, and blue used--albeit Argent contains ermine in a rather unusual way.  Likely, the ermine referenced the City of Spokane's role in the fur trade.  The dancetty lines referenced mountainous terrain in the area while the stars in chief are a differenced version of those found in the historic arms of Washington (Dekay, 1993).

Blazon for the 1921 coat of arms for Missionary District of Spokane:  Ermine, a cross throughout Gules on a chief dancetty Azure three mullets Argent.  

Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane
Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
Merely 8 years later, the Missionary District of Spokane adopted a revised version of its coat of arms (Missionary District of Spokane, 1929).  Why?  Dekay (1993) cites that the design of arms from 1921 simply did not garner widespread acceptance causing a new design to become necessary.

In 1929, we see la Rose's revision containing a color combination he rarely used in his designs.  In this design, forests, farming, and the timber industry would dominate as references in the new coat of arms.

Blazon for the 1929 coat of arms for Missionary District of Spokane:  "Vert, three crosses-crosslet Or on a pale Purpure fimbriated Argent between two garbs of the second" (Dekay, 1993, 71).  

Today, the Diocese of Spokane continues to use la Rose's revision of 1929 as its coat of arms.  Let's quickly compare Spokane with its neighbor Olympia.

Coat of Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia
Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
During its third convention in 1913, the new Diocese of Olympia adopted a coat of arms designed by la Rose.  Along with his draft, la Rose offered the following rationale.
"It is based upon the voyage of Captain Gray which conserved the Territory of Washington to the United States, just as now the Church will conserve it to the Kingdom of Christ. The sail of the heraldic ship is charged with the arms of George Washington, in honor of whom, of course, the state is named. And to indicate the state rather than the city of Washington, D. C., I have charged the pennant at the masthead with the single star of an American State.  Had it been the city I should have used a 'mural crown' instead of a star.  So much for the sail and pennant. 

"The flag itself is charged with the St. George Cross, which in Ecclesiastical arms is constantly used to symbolize the Anglican Communion. The colors of the whole should naturally fall into a patriotic combination of the American colors. And I think that even without a knowledge of Gray’s voyage and the analogy involved, the whole symbolism of the Diocesan coat will be clear to the least instructed" (Diocese of Olympia, 1913, 20).
La Rose's blazon for the arms of Episcopal Diocese of Olympia:  "Azure, an ancient galley under sail with pennon and flag all Argent; the sail charged with the arms of Washington—two bars and in chief three stars Gules; the Pennon charged with a hurt and thereon a star of the second; the flag charged with a Saint George cross Gules" (Diocese of Olympia, 1913, 21).

The diocese's arms are completely different from Spokane's design.  You'd never guess they were neighbors.

Works Cited

De Kay, E.J. (1993).  Heraldry of the Episcopal Church.  Acorn Press. 

Diocese of Olympia. (1913). Journal of the 3rd annual convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Olympia.  Diocese of Olympia, 19-22.

Missionary District of Spokane. (1921).  Journal of the 29th annual convocation of the Church in the Missionary District of Spokane.  Missionary District of Spokane.

Missionary District of Spokane. (1929).  Journal of the 37th annual convocation of the Church in the Missionary District of Spokane.  Missionary District of Spokane.

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Another Cookbook: The Arms of St. Peter's Parish

Coat of Arms of St. Peter's Parish Church New Kent, Virginia
Arms of St. Peter's Parish Church New Kent, Virginia
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
Mind the cookbooks.  Never underestimate the power of those plastic spiral bindings or Episcopal Church Women (ECW) for that matter. 

Kitchen Keys
Published in 1988 by the Episcopal Church Women
of St. Peter's Parish Church, New Kent, Virginia
I happened upon this heraldic cookbook online as part of my quest to discover, render, and share sound corporate heraldry in the US.  Why?  To illustrate the existence of an American heraldic tradition that is alive and continues well into the 21st century.  My focus is on ecclesiastical heraldry in the Episcopal Church and scholastic coats of arms--think schools, academies, colleges, seminaries, universities, and any US-based academic organization.  I have no desire to attempt to collect and catalogue the entirety of designs within these categories, as I'm more interested in those designs that honor the tradition and rules of heraldry.    

Not long ago, I wrote a small bit about the Episcopal Church cookbook phenomenon when I discovered an impaled coat of arms of a parish gracing one such cover.  Click here to read more about my first heraldic cookbook discovery. To read other articles in the Recent Finds series, click the corresponding label at the end of this post.  

Banners of arms for the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia & St. Peter's Parish Church
Banners of arms for the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia & St. Peter's Parish Church
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
Kitchen Keys plays nicely on the parish dedication of St. Peter's Parish Church in New Kent, Virginia.  The title is brilliant!  Less than an hour from where I write, this historic parish is located in the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and boasts a well differenced coat of arms.  

Far too often I see parishes adopting the undifferenced-attributed arms of their dedication and using for their own corporate identity.  I blame good intentions and a widespread lack of education within the Episcopal Church on heraldry and parish identity.  To wit, the last publication on church heraldry was Dekay (1993) which is fine but contains errors, gaps without data, and lacks source material.  While Dekay's work is an important contribution towards advancing our knowledge on the subject, it must be treated as a point of departure rather than gospel truth.

Meanwhile, 32 years have passed and little has been added to the literature on heraldry in the Episcopal Church, leaving the faithful bereft and uneducated.

Coat of Arms of St. Peter's Parish Church New Kent, Virginia
Arms of St. Peter's Parish Church New Kent, Virginia
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
To confirm tinctures for these arms as seen on the cover, I searched the parish's website and Facebook page for any additional evidence.  

There is a banner hanging towards the back of the sanctuary containing the coat of arms--a white field can be confirmed.  Sadly, it does appear that both keys and stars are gold.  Since the photo on the website was taken at a distance, I'm following the recipe from Kitchen Keys and going with red.

Arms and flag of St. Peter's Parish Church, New Kent, Virginia
Arms and flag of St. Peter's Parish Church, New Kent, Virginia
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
The crossed keys of Saint Peter readily identify themself and the parish dedication.  Established in 1679, St. Peter's Parish experienced the horrors of two wars while surviving to share God's story of love and faithfulness.  The two stars likely commemorate the Revolutionary War and Civil War, the latter causing the most destruction to parish property (Saint Peter's Episcopal Church, n.d.).

By changing tinctures, omitting an upside-down cross, and adding two stars sufficiently differences the parish's arms from those attributed to Saint Peter.  If the two stars commemorate the parish's history through two armed conflicts on American soil, then these arms truly provide bespoke identification for the parish church.  I say to whomever designed the parish arms, job well done.   

Processional banner of arms of St. Peter's Parish Church, New Kent, Virginia
Processional banner of arms of St. Peter's Parish Church, New Kent, Virginia
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
I think the arms look rather lovely, and perfectly suited as an armorial flag and processional banner.  I should think all eyes would be on St. Peter's processional banner at the next diocesan convention.

The blazon for the arms of St. Peter's Parish Church, New Kent, Virginia:  Argent, two keys in saltire wards to chief between in chief and in base two stars of five points Gules.

Works Cited

De Kay, E.J. (1993).  Heraldry of the Episcopal Church.  Acorn Press. 

Episcopal Church Women of St. Peter's Parish Church. (1988).  Kitchen keys.  William Byrd Press.

Saint Peter's Episcopal Church. (n.d.).  Our history.  accessed on April 10, 2025.  https://www.stpetersnewkent.org/About_Us_Mission_and_Ministries/History/