Post Your Granted, Assumed or Desired Arms

[Cygnus]

Lord Lyon would not grant a crest to my late father, an Episcopalian priest, who had served in the Queen's Own Rifles, but rather granted a crest for his lay heirs. The crest was depicted on the Extract of Matriculation, but above his shield was placed the correct ecclesiastical hat.

That's very interesting, Sandy. I was under the impression that clergymen could be granted crests, but that they generally chose to display the corded and tasseled ecclesiastical hat instead.

That is good information to know!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

That's very interesting, Sandy. I was under the impression that clergymen could be granted crests, but that they generally chose to display the corded and tasseled ecclesiastical hat instead.

That is good information to know!

Clergy can be, and are, regularly granted crests, as well as various sorts of heraldic hats-- I am aware of crests granted to (1) a Catholic Bishop; (2) a Methodist Bishop; (3) a Rabbi; (4) several Protestant clergymen.

Hats usually follow the traditional system of colour and tassels to denote rank within the church. Anglican clergy, to distinguish themselves from the Roman clergy, will often place either a Canterbury cross, or a red and white heraldic rose, on the front of the hat although this practice is by no means universal. Recently a Methodist Bishop had placed above his arms a representation of the three-cornered hat worn by John Wesley.

Rabbis may wear hats, but they do not figure into any grants that I am aware of. That said, the symbolism used in devising their arms often alludes to their faith. One rabbi that I know has as his crest a representation of the City of Jerusalem taken from a 12th century map, while his arms stylistically represent a menorah.

[JSFMACLJR]

That's very interesting, Sandy. I was under the impression that clergymen could be granted crests, but that they generally chose to display the corded and tasseled ecclesiastical hat instead.

That is good information to know!

You are correct, I believe. Lord Lyon does grant crests to clerics, but generally they prefer a hat, with a separate grant of a crest to the lay heirs.

In my communication with Lord Lyon Blair, he indicated that he preferred not to grant crests to priests, but would entertain the possibility if the petitioner really wanted one.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

You are correct, I believe. Lord Lyon does grant crests to clerics, but generally they prefer a hat, with a separate grant of a crest to the lay heirs.

In my communication with Lord Lyon Blair, he indicated that he preferred not to grant crests to priests, but would entertain the possibility if the petitioner really wanted one.

This is somewhat different than the practice in Ireland where grants, in the first instance, are made without regard to the practice or profession of the petitioner. In other words everyone seeking a grant of arms is entitled to three basic elements: the shield of arms, the crest (which may or may not be displayed on a helmet), and a motto.

Generally the position taken with regard to clergy is that while the crest is regularly granted, it is up to the cleric to decide whether or not he wishes to use it.