The Coat of Arms consists of a “saltire” (St Andrew’s Cross) for the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh for which I was ordained priest. There is a crown and eagle set against a background of “murrey”. The crown represents the Royal Scots College, Spain where I was a student, Vice-Rector and Rector. The eagle is the symbol of John the Evangelist and therefore the symbol for “Ian”. These symbols are flanked by two white panels with acorns. These stand for St Columba of Derry the place of the oak trees and Patron of the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles.

At the base of the shield there is a star which appears also on the Murray Coat of arms. At the upper corners of the shield are two shells representing my mother’s family Rodgers and also St. James of Compostella.

Behind the shield is the Bishop’s Cross surmounted by the Episcopal in green with six tassels. The Motto underneath the shield is taken from St Teresa of Avila who wrote, “When I was in Salamanca in 1571 the Lord said to me, “Daughter, obedience gives strength”. These words were chosen in recognition of the great Spanish mystic and of the connection of the Royal Scots College in Salamanca.