Churches across England joined the nation in celebrating St George’s Day yesterday.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, opened the grounds of Bishopthorpe Palace so that local children could come and mark the day with a party.

The Archbishop recently expressed his view that St George’s Day should be celebrated as a public holiday and that a new English identity needs to be formed.

Dr Sentamu has also expressed his regret that all the other nations of the UK passionately celebrate the day of their patron saint, whilst in England St George’s Day often passes without notice.

He said, “I would love this to be a day of dedication, that we will help those who are struggling within our country – help them like St George would have done,” reports the Daily Mail.

He added, “But it [St George’s Day] also happens to be the birthday of Shakespeare. Why couldn’t we have street parties where plays of Shakespeare and many other plays are being re-enacted in our streets?

“Why don’t we have art, music, dance and actually have a great celebration? ... This country needs a lift instead of always feeling ‘Oh dear, everything is bad, it’s very awful.’”

Yesterday the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, Bishop of Rochester also encouraged churches to ring their bells to mark St George’s Day, to fly the flag of England and hold special services to remember the “glorious heritage” of England.

Mayor Boris Johnson led celebrations in London. He said that the patron saint of England had been “ignored” for too long and put on a number of free events for the day.