Page 25 - November-December1965

Nov.-Dec., 1965 NATIONAL BUTTON BULLETIN 271

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FIRST PR,IZE AWARDED TO PENNSYLVANIA STATE EXHIBIT
Theme of the Exhibit "STEEL, The Spectacular".

THE MITRE IN BRlTISH HERALDRY-
BADGE AND trREST
Jane Ford Adams
Bishops and archbishops of the Church of England have the mitl'e as their
badge of ofiice. It is displayed separately or over the shield as part of the arms.
On livery buttons it signifles ofiiclat rank and dignity in the same way that
coronets show lanks of nobility from duke to baron.
As heraldically drarvn, the mitre is a rigid, high-standing head covering
wilh a conic top cleft into front and back by a split extending part rvay down.
The Lips al'e surmounted by a cross o1. other ornament. Two fringed ribborx
depend f].om inside.
The mitre of archbishops and bishops difier though not as noticeably as their
difference in station mlght suggest. Archbishops take precedence immediately
behind royal dukes, ahead of other dukes, whereas bishops come very much
farther dolvn the line, behind the younger sons of marquesses. The difierence
in mitres is: a bishop's flts tl-re head with a simple band or circlet; an
archbi,shop's as a ducal coronet, recognized by the three leaves atop the band.
The exception to the rule is the Bishop of Durham who has a ducal coronet
for other titles that he holds.