A Wonderful St. George’s Day Gathering

What a fantastic Thursday it was! Following a beautiful Mass, the Medway truly came alive with laughter, wonderful conversations, and the shared joy of St. George’s Day. Fr Adrian was also sharing in the day, having already set a joyful tone during Mass with a great joke, remarking, "I would like to say that I was up all night baking for our shared feast, but I am glad to say others have done that for us!"

This photo montage perfectly captures the spirit of our community coming together. Here are just a few highlights from our celebration:

• A Feast Fit for a Patron Saint: The tables were absolutely brimming with an incredible spread of homemade treats. From the beautifully decorated cupcakes proudly sporting the St. George's cross to hearty sausage rolls, rich chocolate cake, and sticky cinnamon swirls, the culinary talents of our parish were on full display!

• Fellowship and Cheers: The photos show smiles all around as friends raised a glass of non-alcoholic gin and tonic, shared a cup of tea, and enjoyed a well-deserved catch-up. It was wonderful to see everyone so relaxed and enjoying each other’s company.

• The Perfect Setting: With delicate red roses decorating the tables, the hall felt incredibly warm and welcoming, making it the perfect backdrop for our gathering.

It was a brilliant way to honour St. George and celebrate together. To keep the St. George's Day spirit going, keep reading below for some fascinating facts about our patron saint!

He wasn't English: St. George was actually born in Cappadocia, an area that is now in modern-day Turkey, to Greek Christian parents.

​He never set foot in England: There is absolutely no historical evidence that he ever visited England, or even knew much about it!

​He was a Roman Soldier: George was a high-ranking officer (a Tribune) in the Roman army, serving under Emperor Diocletian in the late 3rd century.

​There was no dragon: No. That can't be true!! The famous story of him slaying a dragon to save a princess didn't appear until about 800 years after his death. It was popularised by the Crusaders returning from the Middle East, likely as a metaphor for Christianity triumphing over evil (or paganism).

​He wasn't England's first Patron Saint: Before St. George took over the top spot, England had other patron saints, most notably St. Edmund the Martyr and St. Edward the Confessor.

​He is an international icon:  England definitely has to share him! He is also the patron saint of Portugal, Venice, Genoa, Catalonia, Ethiopia, and the country of Georgia (which is literally named after him).

​He was a martyr: He died for his faith. When Emperor Diocletian ordered the systematic persecution of Christians, George refused to renounce his beliefs and was executed in Lydda (modern-day Israel) on 23 April, 303 AD.

​The flag was 'borrowed': The famous red cross on a white background (the St. George's Cross) was originally the flag of Genoa. English ships started flying it in the Mediterranean to benefit from the protection of the powerful Genoese fleet.

​King Edward III made him famous in England: St. George's popularity in England really took off in the 14th century when King Edward III made him the patron of the Order of the Garter, England's highest order of knighthood.

​His feast day used to be a massive party: In the early 15th century, St. George's Day was declared a major feast day in England. For a few hundred years, the celebrations on 23 April were just as big and important as Christmas!

Do you know of other facts or dispute any of the above. Let us know !