Compasrose Flag of the Anglican Communion
Encyclopedia
The Compasrose Flag of the Anglican Communion was designed in 1954 by Canon
Edward N. West of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York
for the Second International Anglican Congress in Minneapolis, Minnesota
. The Compass Rose was modernized in 1988 and the new design was laid into the floor of Canterbury Cathedral
during the Twelfth Lambeth Conference
of Anglican bishops.
At the centre of the circular emblem is the Cross of St George
, a reminder of the origins of the Anglican Communion
, and a link unifing the past to the Communion today.
Encircling the cross is a band bearing the inscription, "The Truth shall make you free." It is written in the original New Testament Greek
, the traditional language of scholarship within the Anglican Communion.
From the band radiate the points of the compass. The compass symbolizes the worldwide spread of the Anglican Faith.
Surmounting the shield, at the North, is a mitre
, the symbol of apostolic order essential to all Churches and Provinces constituting the Anglican Communion.
The design was adapted with the colors of blue and gold and made into a flag by Canadian-born priest, Father Andrew Notere. The Archbishop of Canterbury
received the first flag at Lambeth Palace
in December 1990, and the flag was officially inaugurated at the Meeting of the Primates of the Communion in Belfast
in April 1991.
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
Edward N. West of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for the Second International Anglican Congress in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
. The Compass Rose was modernized in 1988 and the new design was laid into the floor of Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
during the Twelfth Lambeth Conference
Lambeth Conferences
The Lambeth Conferences are decennial assemblies of bishops of the Anglican Communion convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The first such conference took place in 1867....
of Anglican bishops.
At the centre of the circular emblem is the Cross of St George
St George's Cross
St George's Cross is a red cross on a white background used as a symbolic reference to Saint George. The red cross on white was associated with St George from medieval times....
, a reminder of the origins of the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
, and a link unifing the past to the Communion today.
Encircling the cross is a band bearing the inscription, "The Truth shall make you free." It is written in the original New Testament Greek
Koine Greek
Koine Greek is the universal dialect of the Greek language spoken throughout post-Classical antiquity , developing from the Attic dialect, with admixture of elements especially from Ionic....
, the traditional language of scholarship within the Anglican Communion.
From the band radiate the points of the compass. The compass symbolizes the worldwide spread of the Anglican Faith.
Surmounting the shield, at the North, is a mitre
Mitre
The mitre , also spelled miter, is a type of headwear now known as the traditional, ceremonial head-dress of bishops and certain abbots in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as in the Anglican Communion, some Lutheran churches, and also bishops and certain other clergy in the Eastern Orthodox...
, the symbol of apostolic order essential to all Churches and Provinces constituting the Anglican Communion.
The design was adapted with the colors of blue and gold and made into a flag by Canadian-born priest, Father Andrew Notere. The Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
received the first flag at Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace is the official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England. It is located in Lambeth, on the south bank of the River Thames a short distance upstream of the Palace of Westminster on the opposite shore. It was acquired by the archbishopric around 1200...
in December 1990, and the flag was officially inaugurated at the Meeting of the Primates of the Communion in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
in April 1991.