DIOCESE OF DAMARALAND
Diocese established in 1924.
Cathedral: St George’s, Windhoek.
Afrikaans
Arms apparently adopted by Bishop Fogarty in 1924. The blazon reads:
Argent, a cross Gules thereon an anchor Sable, all within a bordure per pale Azure and Or.
Brownell[1] writes: “This original version of the arms, on which a black anchor on the Cross of St George contravenes the heraldic colour rule that tincture should not be placed upon tincture, were used by the Diocese for about ten years. The Cross of St George has reference to the dedication of the Cathedral Church.
“The border of blue and gold alludes to the situation of the Diocese between the blue waters of the Atlantic and the gold sands of the desert, while the black anchor is derived from the arms of the Metropolitan See.
“In the latter part of the 19th Century there as a pastoral outreach from the Diocese of Cape Town to the residents of the then British enclave of Walvis Bay. After the former German colony of South West Africa came under a League of Nations Mandate and its administration was taken over by South Africa after World War I, the influx of English-speaking personnel was such as to warrant the establishment of a new Diocese.”
An altered version of these arms came into use in 1934, so correcting the error of colour in this design.
Bishops:
Bishop N W Fogarty (consecrated 1925) was in office when these arms were borne by the diocese.
Afrikaanse blasoen:
Die wapen mag soos volg geblasoeneer word:
In silwer, ’n kruis van rooi met ’n swart anker daarop, alles binne ’n skildsoom gedeel van blou en goud.
