Churches in the Diocese of Hereford are being encouraged to ring their bells on the 23rd April, St George’s day. St George is the patron saint of England.

“I have already arranged for contact to be made with the local diocesan bell ringing organisation asking them if they are planning to be in our bell towers next Thursday, “ said Bishop Anthony Priddis. “I have made clear that I support any effort by them to mark out this special day.”

St George is one of the most famous early martyrs who is honoured all over the world. No historical details of his life have survived but he is believed to have been born in Cappadocia in what is now Turkey, in about the year 280 AD. He was known in England before the Norman Conquest and his fame in the east made him even more popular among English crusaders. He became the patron saint of chivalry and may have been named England’s saint by Edward III. He founded the Order of the Garter in 1348 with the building of St George’s Chapel at Windsor.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has already said that it was time to reclaim our patron saint as an 'all-embracing' symbol of British unity. “I think he is right to encourage us all to celebrate St George,” added Bishop Anthony. “For too long the flag, a simple red cross on a white background has been high-jacked by racists and like Archbishop John, our first black Archbishop, I believe it is time for us to claim it back.”

The Diocese of Hereford which covers Herefordshire, South Shropshire and parts of Worcestershire and Wales has over four hundred churches, most of them grade I or Grade II* listed buildings. Most of them have bells varying in number from one to eight.

There are seven churches in the Diocese dedicated to St George. There are four in South Shropshire, Burrington, Milson, Pontesbury and Clun and three in Herefordshire, Brinsop with Wormsley, Orleton and Woolhope.