Currently walking dog first thing along lower Middlegate. Like the effluent from the cement works the English flag flying from South Ferriby church tower gives evidence of wind strength and direction.
National flags are a relatively recent convention. The flag of England (an oblong Greek cross according to Church Furnishings, A NADFAS Guide, P. Dirsztay, 1988) is an adoption of the flag of St. George. Like most medieval saints George had a symbol, the red cross often associated with knights of the Crusades, this long before countries had national flags. Edward III credited St. George for his military victory at Crecy (France) in the 14th century and so the cross of St. George had a strong military context, indeed the legend of the killing of the dragon is thought to have symbolised the defeat of an invading force. What little evidence exists for the person of George is that he was a member of the Roman Army who was killed in the early 4th century for refusing to not renounce his Christian faith. He lived in the Middle East and never came to England (Britannia).
The flag of St. George was the only saints flag to survive the dictates of the Reformation in the 16th century.
One that didn’t survive was the emblem of St. John of Beverley who was also credited by Plantagenet kings (and, earlier, Athelstan) for certain military victories (see before) – the luck of the draw, at least he lived in England.