One notable aspect of membership of the Church of England is how individual groups identify themselves. Many parishes have their own logo or badge; even dioceses have adopted them. And of course the Church itself has the “e” logo which it allows to be used to identify Anglican organisations, publications and events. It allows a sense of identity, of belonging: a parish’s posters and leaflets, complete with logo, are easily seen to be “ours” (or even “theirs”).

The Ordinariate itself has followed suit to a limited extent, and the arms designed by Fr Marcus Stock will be used to indicate official publications and the like. Quite properly, the arms are reserved to the Governing Council.

Our group is fortunate to have a close association with its local church and the (diocesan) congregation. They have welcomed us into the Church and we are enriched by their fellowship. We hope to be able to give something back in due course!

However, Ordinariate services and other events don’t have a visual identity which we can use at a local level to distinguish them. If we were to organise a local Karaoke evening, for example (although that particular example is rather unlikely!) in order to raise funds for the Ordinariate parish, we couldn’t use the arms. And that wouldn’t be appropriate anyway: a coat of arms would be far too formal for such an application. Even a locally-organised service — for example, the evening service in the hospital chapel which is shared amongst local churches — would not be an appropriate setting for the Ordinariate arms: it’s not an official liturgy, and again, the service itself is less formal than using the arms would imply.

So something else is needed which is

  • easy to recognise
  • suitable for a variety of situations and events
  • easy to reproduce and use in a variety of applications
  • easy to associate with the Ordinariate.

Fleur-de-lys superimposed upon a red heartWe came up with a simple logo (in fact, it’s a heraldic badge) which is derived from the heraldic charges on Fr Stock’s arms: the fleur-de-lys and the heart. It’s easy to recognise: it doesn’t look like the Scout Association logo, for example; it’s easy to reproduce, being a single colour, and can be used in print and online; and it’s easy to associate with the Ordinariate because it uses the two symbols of its patrons.

Together with the fonts we’ve chosen (Calluna and Calluna Sans), we can use it to distinguish Group events and material easily from others in the locality; to help foster a sense of community locally as well as with the Ordinary; and (possibly most important) to allow others to distinguish what we do. It will make it far easier to be prophets among the people, to help others to find the path we have followed, if there is a recognisable sign to gather around. It’s even suitable to be made into lapel badges like the Rotary Club’s wheel or the NSPCC’s green spot: a talking point and an understated symbol which allows the user to identify and be identified with the Ordinariate.

And all of this is opened up to be used as desired, without detracting from the official imprimatur indicated by the arms, which would still be available to use locally with permission, for example on ordination service booklets.