Diocese of Maritzburg

Heraldry of the World
Civic heraldry of South Africa : Ecclesiastical heraldry

DIOCESE OF MARITZBURG

Denomination : Anglican

Official blazon

Per fess; in chief Azure a saltire Argent, above it an estoile Or; in base Argent, on waves of the sea a lymphad banners flotant and oars in action proper.

Origin/meaning

The arms were not granted, but used from 1869-1893.

The diocese of Maritzburg was created in 1869 when John William Colenso was ineffectually declared deposed as Bishop of Natal by the Metropolitan, Robert Gray, in 1863. He refused to give up his episcopacy or vacate his Diocese, so the newly appointed Bishop of Natal had to change the name of the diocese in 1869 to Diocese of Maritzburg. The Diocese of Maritzburg reverted to its original name and arms after A.H.Baynes became Bishop in 1893, as John William Colenso had died in 1883.

The arms show the old arms of the Diocese of Natal in the upper half, and a sailing boat in the base. The meaning of the boat I don;t know.

Besides the arms show above, another version, with the oldest Natal arms, has also been mentioned, see below.