Letter: Nominations for a new St George

Sir: Jacqueline Doyle is right to question the suitability of George, that at least semi-mythical import, to be patron saint of England. There is, however, a far stronger candidate than St Cuthbert, whom she prefers.

The diverse English peoples became a nation first by their general adoption of Christianity and second by their resistance to the incursions of the Danes. The cult of St Edmund, King of East Anglia and original Patron of England, recognised both these sources of national identity. (An even better candidate would, of course, have been King Alfred, had the canonisation for which he was at one time a candidate run its full course.)

I certainly agree with Ms Doyle that our Saxon saints merit a lot more consideration than they usually receive.

Yours etc,

ALAN SMITH

Chigwell, Essex

22 April