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St. John's Anglican Church

Ancaster, Ontario
Grant of Arms, Flag and Badge
July 15, 2015
Vol. VI, p. 530

Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.


Blazon

Arms

Gules a chief ogivy Argent, overall a Canadian pale counterchanged charged with a torteau bearing an eagle, wings displayed and inverted, nimbed Or, issuant from the pale on either side two iron strap hinges flory proper;

Motto

ABIDE IN MY LOVE;

Flag

Gules on a Canadian pale Or an escutcheon of the Arms;

Badge

A billet ogivy of one point in chief Gules charged with a chalice issuant therefrom a Host Argent;


Symbolism

Arms

The side sections allude to the red doors with black ironwork that are a distinctive architectural feature of the church, and the section between them conveys the idea of openness. The eagle is the traditional symbol of St. John the Evangelist, and the depiction on a disc alludes to the medallion sculpted for the parish by parishioner Elizabeth Bradford Holbrook.

Motto

Taken from the Gospel of St. John (15:9), this phrase is spoken by Christ about his love for his disciples, and his commandment to love others as Christ loves them.

Flag

This follows the pattern of the National Flag of Canada as well as the flags of the City of Hamilton and the former Town of Ancaster, where the parish is located.

Badge

The red background alludes to the doors of the church, and the chalice, here based on one owned by the parish, alludes to the Holy Eucharist.


Background

Canada Gazette Information

The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on March 12, 2016, in Volume 150, page 739 of the Canada Gazette.


Artist Information

Creator(s)
Original concept of Bruce Patterson, Deputy Chief Herald of Canada, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

Painter
D. Robert Tunstall

Calligrapher
Myriam Chesseboeuf


Recipient Information

Civil Institution
Local (church, synagogue)