Christ Church Cranbrook’s Crest of Arms is made up of seven major parts. Each part of the crest symbolizes important aspects that the church strives to embody.
Christ Church Cranbrook’s Crest of Arms is made up of seven major parts. Each part of the crest symbolizes important aspects that the church strives to embody.
The first element of this part is that the objects depicted are pinecones. Pinecones are the seedpods of evergreen trees, which symbolize the inexhaustible abundance of life in nature. The evergreen trees that these pinecones come from signify eternal life. Gold, the color of the pinecones, connotes generosity.
The next part of the crest of arms is the background. The background is white; a color that represents peace and serenity.
The cross located in the center of the crest of arms is the Cross of St. George, the Patron Saint of England. The red of the cross is supposed to symbolize martyrdom and magnanimity.
The Cross of St. George on the crest also highlights several origins of Christ Church Cranbrook. For instance, the Cross of St. George is central in the Union Jack, the current flag of the United Kingdom, which is where the Booth family that constructed the church originated. Specifically, the Booth family’s ancestral home is in Cranbrook, Kent, England. Also, Canterbury, a city also located in Kent, is home to Christ Church Cathedral, commonly known as Canterbury Cathedral. Lastly, the Cross of St. George is also central in the arms and flag of The Episcopal Church. In conclusion, Christ Church Cranbrook was influenced by the Booth Family and the Episcopal Church, both of which have their origins in England.
The wavy red lines highlight the fact that Christ Church Cranbrook is situated on the banks of the Rouge River in Michigan. It should be noted that flowing water is also referred to as “living water.”
This section of the crest of arms actually includes the Arms of George Gough Booth. The Arms of George Gough Booth are incorporated into the crest of arms of the parish to show appreciation as well as acknowledgment of the major role that the Booth family played in the founding of the parish and establishment of the Cranbrook Community. The Arms of George Gough Booth is blue, which symbolizes loyalty and truth.
There is a gold chevron placed inside of the Arms of George Gough Booth. The Chevron resembles a roof, and represents protection and worthy accomplishment. The gold color of the Chevron symbolizes generosity as well as elevation of the mind.
The last part of the crest of arms is the three bees, placed inside of the Arms of George Gough Booth. The three bees mean that George Gough Booth was the third generation of Cranbrook Booths in America. Before him, the head of the first generation of Cranbrook Booth family and his grandfather, Henry Gough Booth, used one bee in his emblem, and his father, the head of the second generation, used two bees in his emblem.
According to the compiler of “The Cranbrook Booth Family in America,” the bee was chosen because “[it] seeks out the beautiful, receives the sweet and nourishing, and works energetically to produce enough to share with others.” The family motto, devised by Henry Gough Booth, is “Look to the bees and follow.”
Lastly, the bees symbolize efficient industry, and the gold color represents generosity.
