- The Governor General of Canada
The contents of this Register are intended for research purposes only. The heraldic emblems found in the Register may not be reproduced in any form or in any media without the written consent of the Canadian Heraldic Authority and/or the recipient.
St. Matthew's Presbyterian Church
Ingleside, Ontario
Grant of Arms
May 24, 1995
Vol. III, p. 31
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Or a figure of St. Matthew Azure nimbed Argent winged Bleu-Céleste, between in chief two Celtic crosses Azure and in base enfiling a Loyalist civil coronet Azure an edelweiss flower between two thistle flowers their stems conjoined proper on a chief Azure three burning bushes proper irradiated Or;
Motto
GOING FORWARD IN FAITH;
Symbolism
Arms
The symbol of faith depicted by the burning bush has been used by the Church of Scotland since the early 17th century. The burning bushes represent the joining of St. John’s Presbyterian, Immanual Presbyterian and St. Matthew’s Presbyterian in 1958 under the name of the oldest of the churches, St. Matthew’s at Woodlands, dedicated in 1858. The winged man is the symbol of St. Matthew and thus honours the gospel writer for whom the church is named. The Celtic crosses suggest the ancient roots of Presbyterianism in Scotland from the sixth century. The Loyalist coronet recognizes the German-speaking Loyalists from the Mohawk Valley near Albany, New York, who having been granted land for their loyalty to the Crown settled in the region. The edelweiss and thistles encircled by the coronet commemorate the German and Scottish heritage of the region’s earliest immigrants.
Motto
This was chosen by the members of St. Matthew’s congregation and honours the two hundred year history of the Presbyterian faith in Glengarry.
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on March 24, 2001, in Volume 135, page 936 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept by Robert D. Watt, Chief Herald of Canada, assisted by the Heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority
Painter
Gordon Macpherson
Calligrapher
Nancy Ellis
Recipient Information
Civil Institution
Local (church, synagogue)