Who is welcome at St. George’s?
How accessible is your Church?
Our restoration and building development plans will include improved access for the physically impaired including better ramps and railings, wheelchair accessible washrooms, changing tables in both men’s and women’s washrooms, improved lighting and sound systems for all.
How can I support the work of the church?
How do I volunteer at St. George’s?
What is an Anglican?
Is the Anglican Church protestant?
What is the Anglican communion?
What is the symbolism in the flag of the Anglican Church of Canada?
Who is St. George?
St. George is the protector of women and a model of chivalry. His existence, however, is disputed. One tradition preserved in the Golden Legend says that he was a late 3rd-century Roman centurion of Cappadocia, Asia Minor, a Christian in the service of a pagan emperor. Travelling through Libya he found the inhabitants of the city of Silene (in other versions, Beirut of the Levant) living in the terror of a dragon which had eaten their sheep and could only be appeased by the daily sacrifice of a maiden.
The king’s beautiful daughter, Cleolinda was waiting her turn to be the dragon’s next victim. She was dressed as a bride and was standing at the mouth of the dragon’s cave by the sea. George rode up on his white charger, overcame the dragon, bound it with the princess’s girdle, and told her to lead it back to the city. Her father and 15,000 of his people were astounded by their miraculous deliverance and agreed to become Christians. George then killed the dragon. He then went on to Palestine where he refused to recognize the divinity of Emperor Diocletian. He was dragged along the highway by wild horses, then roasted and finally beheaded.
St. George is the patron of Venice, Genoa, Portugal, Catalonia and Greece. He replaced St. Edward the Confessor as patron saint of England in 1222 after the Crusades, when he appeared to Richard LionHeart before the siege of Antioch and promised him victory. The cry, “St. George for England”, also proved effective in enabling Edward III (1327-1377) to beat the French. His red cross represents England on the Union Jack, and his feast day, April 23, is the English National Day. The St. George’s Channel (or Irish Sea) is so named because he is said to have visited England by that route. As patron of the Order of the Garter, he is sometimes shown in the robes of that Order. The church where the members’ banners are placed, St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, is dedicated to him. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, a group of saints who were especially responsive to prayers for help in recovery from illness and for those who prayed for an easy death.
Credits for the information on this page are given to the Religious Heritage Foundation.
Who is responsible for the photography?
Thanks to Janet Best, Tony Hadley, and Dragos Stoica for providing the fabulous photos on our site, and Ro Ghandi for scanning historic images from our archives.