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!

If The Mitre Fits

The arms of The Rt. Rev. Peter Eaton, Bishop of Southeast Florida
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I'm rolling out a new mitre as an external ornament for arms of dioceses and bishops.  With a distinctive Anglican aroma, I figured it was time to try and customize my own version to use.  Above are the personal coat of arms of The Rt. Rev. Peter Eaton, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, featuring the new episcopal hardware.  Earlier this past winter, I was blessed to attend mass at Sewanee celebrated by Bishop Eaton who is simply an outstanding liturgist and pastor.  So, the good bishop was on my mind.

The arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The mitre traditionally used to ensign such ecclesiastical arms is the mitra preciosa, adorned with jewels and other intricate details.  Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) made prolific use of the mitra preciosa, which he modeled on those found in the 1515 roll of peers at the College of Arms in London.  His version can be seen below.

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

Often incorrectly attributed, the arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany were designed by la Rose and adopted by the diocese in 1931 (The Living Church, 29 August 1931, 603).  Even today, the diocese still illustrates its coat of arms capped with la Rose's version of the mitra preciosa.  He designed the arms for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany as well--the city was home to the la Rose Family. 

I wanted the new mitre to have a 3D effect whereby the hat is turned slightly towards one side, giving the viewer a fuller glimpse of the front and back.  Additionally, I wanted the infulae, or lappets, to appear as unfolding with their creases in tacked and flanking both sides of the escutcheon.  I opted to add a dark red trim to help provide visual contrast.  I will admit that the colors clash depending on the arms they ensign.  The clashing problem will need to wait for now.

  

The arms of the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Since I was recently working on a project and needed to render the arms of the Diocese of West Virginia, I show them here topped with the new mitre.  I am conflicted about West Virginia's arms and truly wish something more unique could be created.  It is my home after all. 

Below are a few select examples.

The arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The arms of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I think the mitre looks perfect on the arms of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast.  The diocese's coat of arms were designed by Dr. J. Waring McCrady (b. 1938) and adopted in 1971.

The arms of The Rt. Rev. 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 during Crittenden's episcopate in Erie.  Always good to design arms for your boss.

The arms of the Province of Canterbury, Church of England
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The arms of the Episcopal Church
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Playing with the trim color to solve my color clash issue, and perhaps this scheme of going darker with gold will work.  Knowing myself, I'll likely continue to tweak and refine things over time.

Works Cited

The Living Church (29 August 1931).  Heraldic arms for the Diocese of Albany.  The Living Church, 85(18), 603.