The seal of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth

Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth

The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, came into being in 1983 after an administrative division of the increasingly large Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. The cathedral of the diocese, St...

 is the symbol of the diocese. The seal was designed at the creation of the diocese by splitting the western counties from the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas

Episcopal Diocese of Dallas

The Episcopal Diocese of Dallas is a diocese of the Episcopal Church USA which was formed on December 20, 1895, when the Missionary District of Northern Texas was granted diocesan status at the denomination's General Convention the preceding October. The Rt. Rev...

 in 1983. The Rt. Rev. A. Donald Davies

A. Donald Davies

The Rt. Rev. A. Donald Davies was the fourth Episcopal bishop of Dallas and subsequently the first Episcopal bishop of Fort Worth. He later founded the Episcopal Missionary Church, after which he became Archbishop and Primate of the Christian Episcopal Church .-References:...

, who was Bishop of Dallas at that time chose to lead the newly created diocese and himself selected the elements of the seal.

Symbolism

The longhorn

Texas longhorn (cattle)

The Texas Longhorn is a breed of cattle known for its characteristic horns, which can extend to tip to tip for steers and exceptional cows, and tip to tip for bulls. Horns can have a slight upward turn at their tips or even triple twist. Texas Longhorns are known for their diverse coloring...

 steer

Steer

Steer, Steers or Steering may mean:* Steering, mechanism used to turn a vehicle* Steer or bullock, castrated male cattle* "Steer" , song by Missy Higgins* George Steer, British journalist and soldier* Steers, South African fast food chain...

 and crenelated line represent Fort Worth (whose nickname is Cowtown

Cowtown

- Places :Australia* Cowaramup, Western AustraliaCanada* Calgary, AlbertaNew Zealand* HamiltonUnited States* Columbus, Ohio* Fort Worth, Texas* Wichita, Kansas* Vacaville, California- Other uses :...

), the star representsTexas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

, the two undulating lines represent the Trinity

Trinity River (Texas)

The Trinity River is a long river that flows entirely within the U.S. state of Texas. It rises in extreme north Texas, a few miles south of the Red River. The headwaters are separated by the high bluffs on the south side of the Red River....

 and Brazos

Brazos River

The Brazos River, called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers , is the longest river in Texas and the 11th longest river in the United States at from its source at the head of Blackwater Draw, Curry County, New Mexico to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico with a drainage...

 rivers which are within the diocese's boundaries, and the griffin for Wales

Wales

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...

, a reflection of Bishop Davies’ own Welsh heritage. (The seal of the Diocese of Dallas features a lion

Lion (heraldry)

The lion is a common charge in heraldry. It traditionally symbolises bravery, valour, strength, and royalty, since traditionally, it is regarded as the king of beasts.-Attitudes:...

, the symbol of England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

.)

Controversy

This seal is currently being used by two separate organizations calling themselves by the name "Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth." One is affiliated with the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone, having withdrawn from The Episcopal Church in the USA. The other has been recognized as the legitimate diocese by The Episcopal Church. For more information on this conflict between two dioceses of the same name see Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth (Episcopal Church) and Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth (Southern Cone)

Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth (Southern Cone)

The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, a diocese of the Anglican Church in North America, is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, and comprises 58 congregations. The diocese is led by Bishop Jack Iker, SSC...

.