Crestfallen! UGLE directive means a change in Lincolnshire’s Provincial crest
The United Grand Lodge of England has reviewed all Provincial Crests and identified several which have not been approved by the College of Arms.
Unfortunately, that list includes Lincolnshire, and a dialogue was undertaken with UGLE about obtaining the necessary approvals. Despite the Lincolnshire Crest having been in constant use for about 200 years, the design could not be used until the matter was resolved. The outcome of the discussions was not only that the approval process would cost many thousands of pounds, but also that the College of Arms would add a border to our crest, even if it were approved. In itself this would require several changes, including a new Provincial banner, revisions to office templates, and other branding elements.
A practical alternative was to create a new Crest, and have it approved by UGLE. This would cost nothing if it did not contain heraldic symbols, meaning that it did not fall under the jurisdiction of the College of Arms. Many Provincial Crests are already in this category. As a result, the Province had created a new crest (shown right), it has been approved by UGLE, and will be adopted with effect from Saturday 1st May 2021.
A new banner will be made, incorporating the new design, and all stationery and Provincial logos will also be changed in the future. This is the best outcome for financial reasons, and provides a more modern design already familiar within our Province.
PGM Dave Wheeler said: “This change is not one that anyone wanted but, unfortunately, the alternative was prohibitively expensive. Research into the origins of the original Provincial Crest proved inconclusive and, whilst it is familiar to us all, it does not reflect the county of Lincolnshire or our Province. I hope the new Crest will not only give a sense of identity but also be immediately recognisable to all who see it.”
