The core of the St George resource has been researched and written by Dr Samantha Riches, author of  St George: Hero, Martyr and Myth (Sutton Publishing, 2005).  It is written primarily for an adult audience, giving a rich and detailed coverage of many aspects of St George and his incarnations over the centuries.  We felt that given the potential for controversy in a subject that many people feel very strongly about, it was important to have a well researched, academically robust body of information at the heart of the resource pack. It is intended to be a starting point for teachers to come to in order to develop age appropriate activities for children and young people. 

One thing that could initially be seen as problematic is the lack of a clear, unassailable historical identity for George.  As you will see, there are many versions of the 'historical' George arising from different countries and different Christian contexts, and also George-like figures that appear in non-Christian traditions. There are also many versions of the dragon-slaying story, and also some traditions where that is not a feature at all. 

What is clear is that the figure of St George often seems to meet the need for an archetypal hero who stands up for his beliefs and who is motivated by a higher purpose than his own personal gratification.  Passing this on to our young people as an ideal is a very positive thing, and for older students in particular, learning that there are many ways of telling a story and that human truths can't always be explained through historical facts are valuable lessons in life.

Please feel free to access this resource, accrediting it where appropriate. We would appreciate it if you would send us any resources and activities you develop out of it so we can share them through the website with other schools.