Archbishop celebrates St George's Day with local school children

Dr John Sentamu opened up the grounds of his Bishopthorpe Palace, near York, to local school children to mark the day dedicated to England's patron saint.

The Archbishop argued that he thought it was wrong the Irish, Scots and Welsh should all enthusiastically mark their saints' days but the English did not really recognise St George's Day.

"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," the Archbishop said.

"But it 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'

"And these children playing rounders here today are trying to say there are some good things in England worth celebrating."

Dr. Sentamu also responded to reporters' questions concerning the comments of leader of the BNP, Nick Griffin, who defended a party leaflet that said black and Asian Britons "do not exist".

In response Dr Sentamu, said it was not up to the BNP to define Englishness: "You don't have to be a member of the BNP to be clearly English, and it is quite a mistake to suggest that everybody who wants to affirm Englishness affirms that narrow thinking."