St Alban's day

It has been suggested that today, the feast of the first known martyr on British soil [c.300 AD], should be the English national day and that we should have St.Alban as our patron saint rather than St.George. I support this idea. I think that a patron saint has symbolic value and would put before us the virtues of self-sacrifice, courage and love of Christ in a way that St.George on the whole does not.

Here's the collect prayer for today.

Eternal Father,
when the gospel of Christ first came to our land
you gloriously confirmed the faith of Alban
by making him the first to win a martyr's crown:
grant that, following his example,
in the fellowship of the saints
we may worship you, the living God,
and give true witness to Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Now sign me up for the campaign to have StAlban made England's patron saint. What? There isn't one?
Morning Prayer for Thursday 22 June 2006: