Sir.-Your St George's Day campaign seems to be gathering support, but I wonder what it is about George that has got you so enthusiastic?

The latest scholarship tells us that he was probably a Christian martyr in Palestine in about 300AD. That's it; the rest is guesswork or legend. There is no connection with England, football, red crosses or dragons.

Don't get me wrong; I'm a vicar and I think it's great that The Gazette is promoting devotion to the saints.

But it has occurred to me that your campaign hasn't really got anything to do with George at all.

What lots of people are really asking for is a day when we can celebrate the good things about being English, and work out what it is that we are proud of.

Just being "proud of England" doesn't work for me because there are some bits of England that are fantastic but there are other bits that really stink.

I think the way that England has stood up for freedom and justice has been amazing, but the way we treat the most vulnerable people among us is shameful.

I think our education system is stunningly good, but the way we let politicians blame everything on asylum seekers is terrifying.

Other people will have different ideas, I am sure.

Whoever St George was, it seems likely that he put his faith above his nation, and that the most important thing for him wasn't pride in his country, but his faith in God.

Now there's an idea.

-Rev Simon Cade, All Saints Church, Basingstoke.