- The Governor General of Canada
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Susan Jennifer Anne Bell
Hamilton, Ontario
Grant of Arms, with differences to Emily Margaret Le Marchant Bell, Nicholas William Delacombe Bell, Andrew Cecil Moore Bell and Olivia Anna Gibson Bell
June 20, 2019
Vol. VII, p. 191
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Per pale Azure and Gules a tiger rampant Or striped Sable embellished Argent holding a set of sanctus bells Or, on a chief Argent a closed book proper bound Azure embellished Or between two Canterbury crosses Gules jewelled Azure;
Crest
A lychgate Azure issuant from a circlet of trillium flowers proper;
Motto
GO INTO ALL THE WORLD;
Differenced Arms for Emily Margaret Le Marchant Bell, child of Susan Jennifer Anne Bell
The Arms of Susan Jennifer Anne Bell debruised of a three-point label Or; This individual will inherit the Arms of the Recipient following her death;
Differenced of Arms for Andrew Cecil Moore Bell, child of Susan Jennifer Anne Bell
The Arms of Susan Jennifer Anne Bell with two wolf heads respectant Gules in place of the crosses;
Differenced Arms for Nicholas William Delacombe Bell, child of Susan Jennifer Anne Bell
The Arms of Susan Jennifer Anne Bell with two Guernsey lilies Gules in place of the crosses;
Differenced Arms for Olivia Anna Gibson Bell, child of Susan Jennifer Anne Bell
The Arms of Susan Jennifer Anne Bell with two fish embowed respectant Gules in place of the crosses;
Symbolism
Arms
The white, blue and red allude to the Royal Union Flag and thus to Bishop Bell’s Loyalist heritage. The tiger is her favourite animal, and is one of the supporters of the arms of her birthplace of Hamilton, Ontario. The sanctus bells symbolize the Eucharist and refer to her surname; the four in the set indicate her children. The Canterbury cross is an emblem associated with the Anglican Church, and is used by Bishop Bell as her pectoral cross. The book refers to her academic studies and to her work as a school chaplain. Its decorated binding is based on early editions of the works of George Herbert (1593-1633), the priest and poet who was the subject of Bishop Bell’s doctoral dissertation.
Crest
The lychgate, an entrance gate to a churchyard, refers to Bishop Bell’s vocation and represents the Church being open to all. A feature of many churchyards in England, the lychgate alludes to her time in England and to her husband Thomas, who is English. In addition, there is a lychgate at the church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Toronto, with which she has had a long association. The trilliums appear in the arms of the Diocese of Niagara, of which she is the bishop. They also symbolize the Holy Trinity.
Motto
This phrase is taken from Mark 16:15, in which Jesus commissions his disciples to “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” This is an important aspect of Bishop Bell’s ministry and also alludes to her previous role as Canon Missioner of the Diocese of Toronto.
Differenced Arms for Emily Margaret Le Marchant Bell, child of Susan Jennifer Anne Bell
The label indicates that she is an eldest child and the heir to the Arms.
Differenced of Arms for Andrew Cecil Moore Bell, child of Susan Jennifer Anne Bell
The wolves are Canadian animals he admires.
Differenced Arms for Nicholas William Delacombe Bell, child of Susan Jennifer Anne Bell
The Guernsey lilies are a symbol of Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands, where he has ancestral roots through both of his parents’ families.
Differenced Arms for Olivia Anna Gibson Bell, child of Susan Jennifer Anne Bell
The fish represent her interest in competitive swimming. Their form here alludes to the letter O and thus to her name. Fish are also one of the earliest Christian symbols.
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on December 7, 2019, in Volume 153, page 4268 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept of Bruce Patterson, Deputy Chief Herald of Canada, and Ralph Spence, Albion Herald Extraordinary, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
Painter
Robert Grey
Calligrapher
Yolande Lessard
Recipient Information
Individual