The Bishop of Oxford has backed calls for the sounding of church bells on St George’s Day but will not campaign for the proposal to be adopted.

The Rt Rev John Pritchard was responding to a call from churchgoer Libby Alexander for a church-led celebration of St George’s Day.

Ms Alexander wrote to all of the country’s 44 Anglican bishops asking them to organise a musical celebration of England’s patron saint.

She claimed that just five bishops had enthusiastically supported her idea.

Yesterday the bishop told the Oxford Mail he would like to see and hear a celebration on April 23.

But while backing Ms Alexander’s idea, he said he would not demand that the county’s churches should sound their bells for England’s saint.

The bishop said: “Our church bells are one of the glories of the Church of England and of English social life, so ringing on our national day seems to be entirely appropriate.

“It also gives another opportunity for the wonderful bands of bellringers all over the country to show off their skills, so I would say go for it.”

Bishop John said it would be a good opportunity to celebrate England’s national identity.

He said: “I love the way that other nations manage to celebrate their national identity in a much more open and generous way.

“I would like to reclaim it and reclaim our identity, not over and against others, but simply as a celebration about what is good about England.”