Selwyn College, Cambridge

Selwyn College is one of the colleges of the University of Cambridge. It was founded in memory of the Rt Revd George Augustus Selwyn (1809–1878), the first Bishop of New Zealand (1841–1868) and, at the end of his life, Bishop of Lichfield (1868–1878). The Selwyn College coat of arms incorporates the arms of the Selwyn family impaled with those of the Diocese of Lichfield.

Arms

Selwyn College began to use its Arms long before an official grant by the College of Arms (they are displayed above the main gateway, built in 1881, and on the Common Seal, first used in 1882). Arms were finally applied for and granted in the 1960s, and are emblazoned as follows:

Related Topics:
Arms - College of Arms - 1960s

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:Per pale Gules and Argent a Cross potent quadrate Argent and Or between four crosses paty those to the dexter Argent those to the sinister Or For the See of Lichfield inpaling Argent on a Bend cotised Sable three Annulets Or for Selwyn all within a Bordure Sable And for Crest On a Wreath Or & Purpure In front of a Book erect bound Gules edged clasped and garnished Or a representation of the Pastoral Staff of Bishop Selwyn.

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The dexter half of the arms (those of the See of Lichfield) are unusual, with or (gold) countercharged on argent (silver), violating the rule of tincture, which prohibits a metal to be charged with another metal. This is thought to refer to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, which also famously violates this rule. The Pastoral Staff of Bishop Selwyn is based on a hardwood Maori staff which is held in the College Chapel.

Related Topics:
Tincture - Kingdom of Jerusalem - Maori

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The College was also granted a badge, A Mitre Or within an Annulet Purpure.

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The College motto is a biblical quotation from 1 Corinthians 16 in Greek, ΑΝΔΡΙΖΕΣΘΕ, translated as "quit ye like men", and also appears as part of a longer quotation over the main College gate.

Related Topics:
Motto - Biblical - Greek

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