Shield of Saint John Baptist Anglican
Statement of Symbolism

Arms of Community

Argent, a cross Gules, border Azure, between in dexter chief a chalice Or and wafer proper, in sinister chief a shell and three drops of water proper, in dexter base a dove volant desceneding proper, and in sinister base an open scroll of scripture proper, a lamb couchant proper. [Heraldry Terms]

Shield

Symbolizes Faith. "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." [Ep vi. 16] We believe that "We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by Faith only, is a most wholesome Doctrine and very full of comfort." [Arcile XI]

Colors

Symbolize traditional virtues:

Cross

Symbolizes Saint George's Cross (red on a white field) -- our Anglican heritage. The cross represents the sacrifice for us, and we believe the Offering of Chirst once made is that perfect redemption, propitiation and satisfaction, for all the sins of the whole world... and there is none other satsifaction for sin..." [Article XXXI]. The Cross of Saint George is used by Anglican churches around the world. Saint George was adopted by the English as their patron saint during the Crusades in the 13th Century under King Henry I. Their tunics and shields were marked with this cross thereafter, and their battle cry: "God for Harry, George, and England"

The two upper quadrants symbolize that "there are two sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel... Baptism and the Supper of the Lord" [Article XXV].

Chalice and Bread

Symbolizes Holy Communion. We believe that the "Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another; but rather it is a Sacrament of our Redemption by Christ's death: insomuch that to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith, receive the same, the Bread which we break is a partaking of the Body of Christ; and likewise the Cup of Blessing is a partaking of the Blood of Christ... the Body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten, in the Supper, only after an heavenly and spiritual manner. And the mean whereby the Body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper, is Faith. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped'. [Article XXVIII]. Furthermore, we hold that the Cup of Lord is not to be denied to the Lay-people. [Article XXX]

Shell

Symbolizes baptism and Saint John Baptist. The three drops of water symbolize the "glorious Trinity, one God - Father the Creator of the heaven and earth;... Son Redeemer of the world;, ... Holy Ghost the Sanctifier of the faithful" [Litany, BCP]. We believe "Baptism is not only a sign of profession, and mark of difference, whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not christened, but it is also a sign of Regeneration or New-Birth, whereby, as by an instrument, they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church; the promises of the forgiveness of sin, and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed; Faith is confirmed, and Grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God.... [Article XXVII]

The two upper quadrants together symbolize the "sacraments ordained of Christ [which] be not only badges or tokens of Christian mens profession, but rather they be certain sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God's good will toward us, by the which he doth work invisibly in us." [Article XXV].

We believe these outward signs of Grace are made operative by God's Word and Holy Spirit. In the Holy Communion we say, "vouchsafe to bless and sanctify, with thy Word and Holy Spirit, these thy gifts and creatures..." [BCP]. The two lower quadrants together symbolize the Word and Holy Spirit at work in the faithful, in both hearing and believing.

Scroll

Symbolizes the Word of God. Jesus was the "Word made flesh" [John 1]. We affirm that Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.... [Article VI] and that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." [ 1 Tim iii. 16-17].

Dove

Symbolizes the Holy Ghost and especially at Christ's baptism. John baptized Jesus in the Jordon River, and "The Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. [Luke iii. 22]. The Dove also symbolizes that Jesus sent the Holy Ghost to comfort and guide the Church. We affirm "The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory, with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God" [Article V]

Lamb of God

Symbolizes Jesus, the Lamb of God, sitting, without adorenment, reflecting the sacrificial Lamb of God aknowledged by John the Baptist. It is set in the center of the cross and shield as representing the center of our faith. Upon seeing Jesus approaching the Jordon, John, the elder cousin of Jesus, said to his disciples, "Behold, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world". [John i. 29]. The Lamb represents the Father's sacrifice of his Son for the sins of the world. The male lamb is perfect, unspotted. We acknowledge that "Holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the Name of Jesus Christ, whereby men must be saved" [Article XVIII]

The Shield in its Entirety

Symbolizes the visible Holy Church as expressed by the people of Saint John Baptist Anglican, our church is "a congregation of faithful men, in the which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments... duly ministered according to Christ's ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same." [Article XIX] in the traditional Anglican faith.

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Note: Mark Carroll designed the shield in colaboration with Mary Risner and Bill James, Trustees of Saint John Baptist Anglican, Incorporated, as the symbol of the Church. It is proctected by copyright. It represents the main tenets of our Anglican faith. The shield has Anglican and Christian meaning with the words of symbolism expressed above, they containing the true expression of the the Anglican Church in the 39 Articles and the historic Book of Common Prayer. The shield was conceived in consideration of our union with the Anglican Church of Virginia, and faithful Anglicans around the world. The shield of the Anglican Church of Virginia has the symbol of the Chalice and Bread, and the colors of Gold, Red, Blue and White. The Sheild of Saint John Baptist Anglican was approved by unanimous vote of the Vestry on May 24, MMVI.