St Andrews Day is hard for me to escape. Our village church is nmaed for the patron Saint of Scotland and flies the colours each St Andrews Day. However, I don't celebrate no protestant days. I can recall one cheeky bugger trying to convince me to donate monthly to the church. I calmly - explained that I am a Catholic. He didn't see any reason why I couldn't continue to be a Catholic and give money to protestants. He lost the argument and I kept my money. The lack of separation between church and state is one of the things I hate most about living in England.
Ciao
But...
...St Andrew was the first of Jesus's disciples - the brother of St Peter, no less. He was adopted as the patron saint of Scotland in around the ninth century and his relics lie in the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of St Mary in Edinburgh.
In what sense then, is St Andrew a protestant saint or his day a 'protestant day'? 
I agree entirely with your views on disestablishmentarianism, although from the viewpoint of a staunch athiest rather than as a member of an alternative subsect of the same religion. I can't say that I or anyone else has ever noticed or commented on being repressed, controlled or manipulated by a state religion in England. The C of E is actually a rather pathetic collection of well-meaning but bumbling old men and women in silly hats. Technically I guess, I'm a member, having been cruelly baptised without my consent at the age of six months.
I must say that I find myself in agreement with your thwarted funds collector; on my frequent and inspiring visits to the great cathedrals of this and other European countries I have always happliy made a financial contribution without regard to the current denomination of the building in question.
Duncan
Duncan
Of course churches of all persuasions share saints, but that in no way implies that they celebrate the lives of each saint in the same way or that each celebration carries the same meaning. Linking St Andrew to the liturgy of the Church of Scotland (or England) is in and of itself a very different thing than to the Catholic church and so the essence of the celebration is profoundly altered.
I am against State and Church being on bed together because it makes for bad politics in the sense of a republican government meant to be representing all citizens in an equal and fair manner. I don't personally feel oppressed other than money local precept being granted to the church to aid in repairs (so I am forced to make a donation to a religious organization which has in fact oppressed followers of my religion to devastating effect) and my daughter having to attend a C of E school (a school which my taxes support) or me being forced to move or go private. One and only one religion was practiced in the school and while I am old enough to ignore it (and did), it was a bit much to expect my daughter to do so - though she did manage okay - reluctantly. All that said, it wasn't so bad for our family, but I can just imagine what Muslims must think.
In terms of enjoying and preserving the architecture of protestant churches, I have no problem donating, but on my own terms. I certainly won't be tythed to any protestant church. It still rankles that my wife and I weren't allowed to be married in the local church of her parents' home because I was a Catholic and my wife wasn't baptised (funnily enough this was something I found out on the spot in front of the vicar - tee hee). Its okay to take our money, but not okay to provide a service. Sorry, I have little time for this sort of attitude. We were married in the USA - probably much better off for it, but it wasn't the traditional setting my wife wanted. The wonderful thing about all this is I am not even a practicing Catholic - ha!
Ciao