THERE is anger among residents of a Teignbridge community after the flag of Saint George was removed from a historic chapel in their town.

Up until recently, the national flag of England could be seen flying atop St Lawrence Chapel in Ashburton.

However, on Sunday, October 8, the Guild of St. Lawrence, the organisation that owns and manages the Grade II listed building, decided to take the flag down.

The decision went to committee, who were majority in favour on taking it down, though it will still be flown for special occasions, the Mid Devon Advertiser understands.

In a statement, the Guild of St. Lawrence said: ‘The Chapel of St Lawrence is an historic public building gifted to Ashburton by the Bishop of Exeter in 1314 after use by him as a private chapel and latterly was the grammar school and is now a building used by organisations, the public and members of the Court Leet and Baron Juries, who consider it their home.

‘The Chapel occasionally flies a flag, eg the Union flag on the King's birthday, the Union flag was flown at half mast on the passing of our late queen.

‘The Poppy flag will be flown during Remembrance week. The Portreeve’s flag is flown for Court and Law Day for the swearing in of the new Portreeve.

‘Also, St George's flag could be flown if England is in the Rugby world Cup or during the Olympics.

‘However, it is not customary for the Chapel to always have a flag up as they get damaged in bad weather and this has caused severe damage to some flags in the past.

‘Ashburton welcomed several Ukrainian women and children who were housed in Ashburton.

‘Clubs to help them integrate were started and the Ukrainian flag was flown to show them support’.

It is important to note that the flag had been flying atop the chapel long before ‘Operation Raise the Colours’, the 2025 campaign advocating for the display of both the Union Flag and the Saint George's Cross in public places.

‘The flag has been there for a couple of years now and all of a sudden it gets taken down?’, one resident said.

‘I am really annoyed about it’, another resident said.

‘I have spoke to a lot of people about it, and people are not happy’, said another.

‘It seems rather odd you can fly the Ukrainian flag for a couple of years, but you put your own flag up and there’s all hell to pay’, they added.