The Rev. Canon Eckford de Kay, a priest in our diocese, designed our heraldic seal and presented it as a gift to Saint Dunstan’s in 2003. The Vestry enthusiastically accepted the gift with thanks and voted to make it the official seal of Saint Dunstan’s Church, Carmel Valley, California.
The seal is made up of a red (gules) shield with a white (argent) ***pallium at its center. The “Y” shaped pallium has four distinctly shaped black (sable) crosses on it. The crosses are pointed like a dagger; sharpened at the lower extremity (fitchee) with arms expanding toward the ends and flat at the outer edges (formee). The gold (or) sunburst (representing glory and splendor) and two ***El Camino Real Bells are taken from the arms of The Diocese of El Camino Real and signify that Saint Dunstan’s is a parish of that Diocese. All of which is within a buckled garter with the motto: St. Dunstan’s – Carmel Valley – 1955, commemorating the founding of the congregation.
Note:
*** “pallium” - As the 25th Archbishop of Canterbury, Saint Dunstan wore a pallium, the traditional, distinctive symbol of an archbishop or metropolitan. It is made of white sheepskin with the fur left on, held in place by four black iron pins.
*** “El Camino Real Bells” – these stylized bells have been in place since the early part of the last century to mark the original route of El Camino Real- The King’s Highway - from San Diego, California in the south to Sonoma in the north.
