Arms shown in The Boy's Own Paper, circa 1885

England has a long tradition of ecclesiastical heraldry. An Anglican bishopric is considered a corporation sole, and most have been granted official arms. Incumbents may impale their personal arms with those of their see.

Province of Canterbury

Image Details
Canterbury, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Azure an archiepiscopal staff in pale Or surmounted of a pall Argent fringed of the second and charged with four crosses patee fitchee Sable.
[1]

Bath and Wells, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Azure a saltire per saltire quarterly counterchanged Or and Argent.[2][3]

Birmingham, granted 8 March 1906

Escutcheon: Per pale indented Or and Gules five roundels two two and one and in chief two crosses patee all counterchanged. [4]

Bristol, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Sable, three ducal coronets in pale Or.[5]

Chelmsford, granted 12 August 1949

Escutcheon: Or on a saltire Gules a pastoral staff of the first and a sword Argent pomel and hilt also of the first.[6]

Chichester, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Azure Our Blessed Lord in judgement seated in His throne His dexter hand upraised Or His sinister hand holding an open book Proper and out of His mouth a two-edged sword the point to the dexter Gules.[7][8]

Coventry, granted 24 January 1919

Escutcheon: Gules a cross potent quadrante in the centre Argent within a bordure of the last charged with eight torteaux.[9]

Derby, granted 29 October 1927

Escutcheon: Purpure a cross potent quadrate Argent in chief three fountains.[10]

Ely, assumed circa 1290

Escutcheon: Gules three Ducal Coronets two and one Or.[11][12]

Exeter, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Gules a sword erect in pale Argent hilted Or surmounted of two keys addorsed in saltire wards in chief of the last.[13]

Gloucester, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Azure two keys endorsed in saltire wards upwards Or.[14]

Guildford, granted 30 September 1927

Escutcheon: Gules two keys conjoined wards outwards in bend the uppermost Or the other Argent a sword of the third pommelled and hilted of the second interposed between them in bend sinister all within a bordure Azure charged with ten woolpacks also Argent.[15]

Hereford, recorded at unknown date. Originally personal arms of Thomas de Cantilupe.

Escutcheon: Gules three leopards' faces reversed jessant-de-lis two and one Or.[16]

Leicester, granted 12 August 1949

Escutcheon: Gules a pierced cinquefoil Ermine in chief a lion passant guardant grasping in the dexter forepaw a cross crosslet fitchee Or.[17]

Lichfield, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Per pale Gules and Argent, a cross potent quadrate in the centre per pale of the last and Or between four crosses patée, those to the dexter of the second and those to the sinister Or.[18]

Lincoln, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Gules two lions passant guardant in pale Or on a chief Azure the Virgin ducally crowned sitting on a throne issuant from the chief in her dexter arm the Infant Jesus and in her sinister hand a sceptre all Gold.[19]

London, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Gules two swords in saltire Proper hilts and pommels Or.[20]

Norwich, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Azure three mitres two and one Or.[21]

Oxford, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Sable a fesse Argent in chief three demi ladies couped at the waist heads affrontee Proper ducally crowned Or arrayed and veiled of the second in base an ox also Argent horned and hoofed Gold passing a ford barry wavy of six Argent and Azure.[22]

Peterborough, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Gules two keys in saltire the wards upwards between four cross crosslets fitchee Or.[23][24]

Portsmouth, granted 25 July 1927

Escutcheon: Per fesse Or and Gules in chief upon waves of the sea Proper a lymphad Sable and in base two keys conjoined wards outwards in bend the uppermost Or the other Argent a sword interposed between them in bend sinister Argent pommel and hilt Or.[25]

Rochester, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Argent on a saltire Gules an escallop Or.[26]

St Albans, 8 June 1877

Escutcheon: Azure a saltire Or over all a sword erect in pale Proper pomel and hilt of the second in chief a celestial crown Gold.[27]

St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, 12 August 1949

Escutcheon: Per pale Gules and azure between three ducal coronets a demi lion passant guardant conjoined to a demi hull of an ancient ship all Or.[28]

Salisbury, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Azure Our Lady crowned holding in her dexter arm the Infant Jesus in her sinister hand a sceptre Or round both heads circles of glory of the last.[29]

Southwark, granted 19 June 1905

Escutcheon: Argent eleven fusils in cross conjoined seven in pale fessewise four in fesse palewise and in the dexter chief a mitre all Gules.[30]

Truro, granted 28 April 1877

Escutcheon: Argent on a saltire Gules a key ward upwards surmounted by a sword point downwards saltirewise Or in base a fleur-de-lis Sable a bordure of the last charged with fifteen bezants.[31]

Winchester, granted 19 June 1905

Escutcheon: Gules two keys endorsed and conjoined at the bows in bend wards in chief the uppermost Or the lower Argent a sword the point in chief interposed between them in bend sinister of the third pomel and hilt Gold.[32]

Worcester, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Argent ten torteaux four three two and one.[33]

Province of York

Image Details
York, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Gules two keys in saltire Argent in chief a regal crown Or. [34][35]

Blackburn, granted 19 February 1927

Escutcheon: Per fesse Gules and Or two keys in saltire wards downwards Argent in chief and a rose barbed and seeded Proper in base. [36]

Carlisle, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Argent on a cross Sable a mitre Or. [37]

Chester, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Gules three mitres with their labels Or. [38]

Durham, recorded in 1530

Escutcheon: Azure a cross Or between four lions rampant Argent.[39]

Leeds, granted 27 June 2014

Escutcheon: Azure a cross formy throughout the limbs in pale taking the form of a Greek Rho Or in the first quarter a rose Argent barbed and seeded Proper.[40]

Liverpool, granted 17 July 1882

Escutcheon: Argent an eagle rising Sable beaked and legged and a glory round the head Or holding in the dexter claw an inkhorn Proper a chief per pale Azure and Gules charged on the dexter side with an open book Or inscribed in letters Sable "Thy Word is Truth" and on the sinister side an ancient ship with three masts sails furled also Or.[41]

Manchester, granted 5 January 1848

Escutcheon: Or on a pale engrailed Gules three mitres of the field a canton of the second thereon three bendlets enhanced also of the field.[42]

Newcastle, granted 29 January 1929

Escutcheon: Gules a cross between four lions rampant Or on a chief of the last three castles triple-towered of the first.[43]

Sheffield, granted 21 April 1914

Escutcheon: Azure a crozier in pale ensigned by a fteur-de-lis between in fess a key surmounted by a sword in saltire to the dexter and to the sinister eight arrows interlaced and banded saltirewise all Or.[44]

Sodor and Man, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Argent, upon a pedestal the Virgin Mary with her arms extended between two pillars, in the dexter hand, a church proper, in base the arms of Man in an escutcheon

Southwell and Nottingham, granted 21 April 1914

Escutcheon: Sable three fountains Proper a chief Or thereon a pale Azure charged with a representation of the Virgin Mary seated bearing the Infant Christ Or between on the dexter side a stag lodged Proper and on the sinister two staves raguly crossed Vert.[45]

Former dioceses

Image Details
Bradford, granted 4 June 1920

Escutcheon: Azure, two keys in saltire Or, in chief a woolpack proper corded of the second. [46]

Gloucester and Bristol, recorded at unknown date

Escutcheon: Azure, two keys endorsed in saltire wards upwards Or, impaling, Sable, three ducal coronets in pale Or. [47]

Ripon and Leeds, granted 3 November 1836

Escutcheon: Argent, on a saltire gules two keys in saltire, wards upwards, Or; on a chief of the second a Holy Lamb proper. [48]

Wakefield, granted 17 June 1905

Escutcheon: Or, a fleur-de-lis azure; on a chief of the last three celestial crowns of the field. [49]

Westminster, no known arms

Escutcheon: Unknown. [50]

References

  1. ^ "Archdiocese of Canterbury". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Diocese of Bath and Wells". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  3. ^ Debrett's Peerage. 1968. p. 121.
  4. ^ "Diocese of Birmingham". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Diocese of Bristol". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Diocese of Chelmsford". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Diocese of Chichester". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  8. ^ Debrett's Peerage. 1968. p. 248.
  9. ^ "Diocese of Coventry". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Diocese of Derby". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Diocese of Ely". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  12. ^ Debrett's Peerage. 1968. p. 420.
  13. ^ "Diocese of Exeter". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  14. ^ "Diocese of Gloucester". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  15. ^ "Diocese of Guildford". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Diocese of Hereford". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Diocese of Leicester". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Diocese of Lichfield". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  19. ^ "Diocese of Lincoln". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Diocese of London". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Diocese of Norwich". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  22. ^ "Diocese of Oxford". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  23. ^ "Diocese of Peterborough". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  24. ^ Debrett's Peerage. 1968. p. 882.
  25. ^ "Diocese of Portsmouth (anglican)". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  26. ^ "Diocese of Rochester". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  27. ^ "Diocese of St. Albans". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  28. ^ "Diocese of St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  29. ^ "Diocese of Salisbury". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  30. ^ "Diocese of Southwark". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  31. ^ "Diocese of Truro". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  32. ^ "Diocese of Winchester". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  33. ^ "Diocese of Worcester". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  34. ^ "Archdiocese of York". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  35. ^ Debrett's Peerage. 1968. p. 1173.
  36. ^ "Diocese of York". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  37. ^ "Diocese of Carlisle". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  38. ^ "The Armorial Bearings of the Bishops of Chester". Cheshire Heraldry Society. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  39. ^ "Diocese of Durham". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  40. ^ "The Arms of the Bishopric of Leeds". College of Arms. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  41. ^ "Diocese of Liverpool". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  42. ^ "Diocese of Manchester". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  43. ^ "Diocese of Newcastle". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  44. ^ "Diocese of Sheffield". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  45. ^ "Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  46. ^ "Diocese of Bradford". Heraldry of the World. 26 December 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  47. ^ "Diocese of Gloucester and Bristol (1836–1897)". Heraldry of the World. 26 December 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  48. ^ "Diocese of Ripon". Heraldry of the World. 26 December 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  49. ^ "Diocese of Wakefield". Heraldry of the World. 26 December 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  50. ^ "Diocese of Westminster". Heraldry of the World. 26 December 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
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