Archbishops of Canterbury - Coat of Arms

• Archbishop Whitgift

• Archbishop Laud

• Archbishop Tenison

Archbishops of Canterbury (like other holders of high ecclesiastical office) bear an impaled coat of arms: that is to say, the shield is divided into two halves, so as to combine The Arms of the See of Canterbury on the left hand side (as viewed), with the Archbishop's personal on the right. In the full representation, a bishop's mitre is shown above the shield (instead of the helmet and crest normally found on lay coats of arms).

The blazon (technical heraldic description) of The Arms of the See of Canterbury is:

'Azure, an Archiepiscopal staff in pale argent ensigned with a cross paty or, surmounted by a pallium of the second, fimbriated and fringed or, and charged with four crosses paty fitchy sable.'

In standard English, this means:

The background is blue. The main object visible is a Y-shaped 'pallium', part of an archbishop's vestments: this is white, edged in gold, and decorated with four splayed black crosses with pointed feet. Behind the pallium (and partly hidden by it) is an upright silver archbishop's staff, its head formed of a splayed gold cross.

John Whitgift (Archbishop 1583-1604) established the Whitgift Hospital in 1596, and a grammar school in 1600: the Whitgift Foundation now runs three schools, and remains an influential body in the life of the town. During his lifetime, Whitgift received four separate grants of personal arms (all variations on the same basic design). The Arms now most commonly associated with him are those authorised by the fourth grant, of 22 January 1599:

'Argent, on a cross formy fleuretty sable, five bezants or.'

In standard English: a white (or silver) background, bearing a black cross, its arms terminating in fleur-de-lys shapes, and surmounted by five gold discs.

Examples of Archbishop Whitgift's arms can be seen on his tomb in Croydon Parish Church; on the entrance doors of the Whitgift Hospital; and above the main entrance of the Town Hall. Both the London Borough of Croydon arms, and The Arms of the Whitgift Foundation (granted 1971), are differenced versions of Whitgift's arms. Whitgift School and Trinity School both use badges based on The Arms; and the Whitgift Centre uses a logo inspired by them.

The Arms of Archbishop Whitgift - click picture to see large version

The Arms of Archbishop Whitgift

William Laud (Archbishop 1633-1645) spent much time in Croydon, and was responsible for refurbishing the chapel of Croydon Palace. His personal arms were: 

'Sable, on a chevron between three estoiles or, as many crosses paty fitchy gules.'

In standard English: a black field, bearing a yellow (or gold) chevron (inverted V shape), lying between three gold stars with wavy rays. On the chevron are three splayed red crosses with pointed feet.

Archbishop Laud's arms can be seen carved in woodwork in the Old Palace chapel. A version of them is used by Old Palace School as a badge.

The Arms of Archbishop Laud - click picture to see large version

The Arms of Archbishop Laud

Thomas Tenison (Archbishop 1695-1715) founded Archbishop Tenison's School in 1714. His personal arms were:

'Gules, a bend engrailed argent voided azure, between three leopards' faces or jessant-de-lys azure.'

In standard English: a red field bearing a white (or silver) diagonal band with scalloped edges, and a narrower blue band running down its centre. This lies between three gold leopards' faces, each of which is pierced by a blue fleur-de-lys entering through the mouth.

 Archbishop Tenison's School uses a version of these arms as a badge.

The Arms of Archbishop Tenison - click picture to see large version

The Arms of Archbishop Tenison

The coats of arms of other Archbishops can be seen displayed around the buildings of the Old Palace; in the parish church; and in Addington church and churchyard.

Thursday, 28 August, 2008

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