BBC HomeExplore the BBC
This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.

24 September 2014

BBC Homepage

Local BBC Sites

Neighbouring Sites

Related BBC Sites

Contact Us

St Edmund

You are in: Suffolk > People > St Edmund > St Edmund, Patron Saint of Suffolk

Terry Hunt, Jeremy Pembroke and Mark Murphy

Hail St Edmund, Patron Saint of Suffolk

St Edmund, Patron Saint of Suffolk

A campaign for St Edmund to replace St George as England's representative may have been turned down by Downing Street, but Suffolk can now boast the Anglo Saxon King as its very own patron saint.

BBC Radio Suffolk and The East Anglian Daily Times have been campaigning for St Edmund to be reinstated as England's patron saint and took a petition to 10 Downing Street and the House of Commons.

The British government declined to relieve Saint George of his title but, knowing a good thing when they see it, Suffolk County Council has now stepped in. Council leader Jeremy Pembroke has agreed to officially adopt St Edmund as the patron saint of Suffolk.

"If the country don't want him the county does," Mr Pembroke said.

Read Tony Blair's rejection letter and look at photos of the campaign:

St Edmund being named patron saint of Suffolk is the high point of a successful campaign which was launched by Breakfast show presenter Mark Murphy and producer Emily Fellows in the autumn of 2006. St Edmund was originally the English patron saint but was ousted by St George.

Mark says he has nothing against St George but believes the dragon slayer hasn't really caught on in the way other saints such as St Patrick have.

The St Edmund petition outside Parliament

The St Edmund petition arrives in London

Since the campaign was launched, a St Edmund flag has been produced and flown from flagpoles across Suffolk, Bury St Edmunds brewers Greene King produced a St Edmund ale and One railway named one of its trains St Edmund.

The St Edmund campaign has been featured on numerous television and radio programmes up and down the land. Radio 4's Today programme, Five Live breakfast and the Chris Moyles breakfast show on Radio 1 all featured the story.

The Bury St Edmunds MP David Ruffley also took up the cause and helped deliver the massive petition to London.

St Edmunds day is now firmly in the Suffolk calendar and from now our very own county saint will be remembered and celebrated on 20 November.

last updated: 26/06/2008 at 11:50
created: 20/04/2007

Have Your Say

The BBC reserves the right to edit comments submitted.

Francis Mathew
Bless you all, good folks of Suffolk.I am from Penang island, the former Prince of Wales Island in south east Asia. This island was founded in 1786 by Captain Francis Light who came from Suffolk, England. Regardless of who is the patron saint, as long he has the blessings of the Lord to bless all the folks of Suffolk forever, then that saint / saints should be venerated and respected. How about having two saints on the flag as patron saints of Suffolk - double blessings for Suffolk ? My suggestion, only.

Jonathan Crane
I am disappointed that the government rejected it. But, to be fair, you need more people to back the campaign before the government will change their minds. Saint Edmund could be patron saint of England in years to come, but more work will need to be done first. You need to encourage people to buy and use the Saint Edmund flag, and draw more attention to your campaign through the media.Don't forget, there would need to be a public referendum about whether the English people as a whole wish to get rid of St George. Then there would need to be consultation with the English people about who they want to replace Saint George, you can't just decide on Saint Edmund yourselves there might be other saints that fit the bill too.I think Saint Edmund is a good candidate to be English patron saint, but that is just my opinion.

Barbara Southward
I live in Essex, grew up in Worcestershire with a father from Norfolk. We attended church of St Edmund king and martyr Dudley and I have a very soft spot for the king. I think he is much ,more suited to being Patron Saint of England than George. Are there car stickers I can buy to 'fly the flag' for St Edmund?

Louis Brooks
HI do you know where I can buy a St Edmund flag? Would be good to fly one at Sudbury Cricket Club

Pat Davis
From another homesick exile, this time in Cornwall:I think it's great that St Edmund has received at least some recognition - are there going to be any car stickers? I hope so, I live in Cornwall and so see St Piran's flag everywhere - it would be nice to show that there are other areas that are proud of their history.

Sue Harling
How wonderful - this news has made me so happy (and homesick...living in Australia but desperately missing my beautiful home every minute of every day). Sue

Jackie Baker
Is it possible to obtain T-Shirts with the St.Edmund logo on. If so please supply telephone number or e-mail address:- so we canpurchase some.Thanking youD J Baker (Mrs)

Jackie Weal
I would like a St Edmund St Georges cross flag. could you advise me where I can get one?

Michael
Why ? what a total waste of time and money its George and always will be and i am born and bread in suffolk !

Jenny
Hooray! A much better saint than George! Although now exiled to Essex, this Suffolk girl will be celebrating St Edmunds Day on 20th Nov.

You are in: Suffolk > People > St Edmund > St Edmund, Patron Saint of Suffolk

BBC Suffolk website, St Matthew's Street, Ipswich, IP1 3EP
phone: 01473 250000 | e-mail: [email protected]


About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy