Episcopal Seal

Episcopal Seal

is the official formal seal of a bishop, attached to letters of orders, licenses, deeds of institution, induction, degradation, and other documents. They represent the arms of the diocese, impaled with the personal arms of the bishop. Bishops commonly have two official seals — a large and a small one. These, in England, on their death, are sent to Lambeth Palace to be defaced and destroyed under the direction of the archbishop's official.