Diocese of Umzimvubu
 |
Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of South Africa : Ecclesiastical heraldry |
|
DIOCESE OF UMZIMVUBU
Denomination : Anglican
Official blazon:
Per fess wavy abaissé Gules and Azure, a bar wavy abaissé Argent, surmounted by a Celtic cross Or; a chief dancetty Azure filleted argent.
Origin/meaning :
The arms were officially granted on November 24, 1992.
The diocese of Umzimvubu was formerly the northern part of the Diocese of St. John and was established in 1991. It takes its name from the Mzimvubu River which rises in the Drakensberg near Mount Macdonald, near the point where the borders of the Eastern Cape, Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal meet, and which then flows south and south-east to enter the Indian Ocean at Port St Johns.
The chief dancetty alludes to the Drakensberg and the bar wavy to both the rivers of the diocese and the sea. The Celtic cross refers to the role of the Episcopal Church of Scotland in establishing the Diocese of St John, from which Umzimvubu was taken. The form of this Celtic cross is based on that of Muireadach’s Cross in County Louth, where the two finest examples of Celtic high crosses in Ireland stand.
Literature: Images and information by Mike Oettle