The Bishop’s Arms

Bishop Ralph Spence visited Synod in his role as Albion Herald.  He presented Bishop Bell with her own set of Arms.

In making the presentation, he detailed the significance of each part of the arms:

The background colours allude to the Royal Union Flag and thus to Bishop Bell’s United Empire Loyalist heritage. The vertical division of the shield in blue and red also echoes the arms of the priest and poet George Herbert (1593-1633), the subject of Bishop Bell’s doctoral dissertation. The tiger is her favourite animal, and is also a symbol of her birthplace of Hamilton, Ontario, known as “Tiger Town.” The sanctus bells symbolize the Eucharist and provide a canting reference to her surname; the four in the set refer to her children. The Canterbury cross is an emblem closely associated with the Anglican Church, and is used by Bishop Bell as her pectoral cross. The book refers to her academic background and to her work as a school chaplain, and its ornate binding serves as an allusion to 17th century books and thus to her interest in the works of George Herbert.