Bury St Edmunds: Campaign For New Patron Saint

4 June 2013, 06:00

A campaign is starting in Suffolk to reinstate St Edmund as England's Patron Saint and introduce a new bank holiday.

St Edmund was an ancient King of East Anglia, who held off Viking invaders and was patron saint of England during the Middle Ages but was replaced by St George some 400 years later after Edward III associated George with the Order of the Garter.
 
Bury St Edmunds brewery Green King is aiming to raise the profile of St Edmund across the country by campaigning to replace St George with St Edmund as the true patron saint of England.
 
Speaking about the campaign ‘St Edmund for England’, Rooney Anand, chief executive officer of Greene King, said: “This is not an attack on St George or those that support him. It is a fun, yet serious attempt to reinstate England’s former patron saint and encourage the nation to celebrate on 20 November, instead of on 23 April.
 
Backing for the move has also come from local MP David Ruffley, the Dean of St Edmundsbury, Frances Ward, Bury St Edmunds Town Council, St Edmundsbury Borough Council and local flag specialist, Bulstrodes.