Holy Saviour Church, Waterloo

HOLY SAVIOUR CHURCH (Waterloo, Ontario)

Denomination : Anglican

Arms (crest) of Holy Saviour Church, Waterloo

Official blazon

Argent a cross Gules overall a wagon wheel Azure the portions on the cross Or fleuretté Argent, charged with a plate bearing the Greek letters IHS Sable, on a chief Azure a celestial crown between dexter an eagle's head nimbed erased contourné and sinister a moose's head erased Or; Motto: CANTATE DOMINO

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on April 3, 2001.

The red cross on white is the traditional emblem of the Anglican Communion.
The wheel is a local reference to the Conestoga wagon, which brought the first settlers into Waterloo. Theologically, it represents the liturgical year, as well as wholeness and community. Where the wheel is coloured gold, takes the shape of a cross potent, the shape of the altar cross of the parish.

The fleurs-de-lis represent the Trinitarian faith of the members of the parish reaching out into the community. They are also to be found painted on the ceiling of the sanctuary of the church.

The disc with the Divine monogram (the name of Jesus in Greek) represents the centrality of the Eucharist in the community’s worship.

The chief incorporates design elements reflecting the descent and outreach of the parish. The eagle’s head is from the arms of the parish of St. John the Evangelist, Kitchener, Holy Saviour’s mother parish; the celestial crown, an emblem for All Saints, reflects Holy Saviour’s founding of All Saints Parish in north Waterloo; and the moose head is a reference to Renison College in the University of Waterloo, in the founding of which Holy Saviour was deeply involved and for which it still provides leadership.

The motto means “O sing unto the Lord”. (Ps. 149:1).