Exploring and explaining news stories from across England.
Series 5: Sanctuary: An Act of Defiance Viraj Mendis from Sri Lanka begs for sanctuary in an Ascension church. The vicar, Father John Methuen, agrees to protect him defying Thatcher’s government.
Previously on In Detail...
Series 1. The Pub Bombings Exploring the impact of two Birmingham pub bombs in a 50 year evolving story.
Series 2. The Toxic Waste Scandal Explore the shocking events that ripped through a steelworks community in Corby.
Series 3: Felled: The Sycamore Gap Story Hairy Biker Si King investigates who felled the tree at Sycamore Gap in Northumberland.
Series 4: The Jesus Army Uncovering the rise and unravelling of one of the biggest religious cults in Britain.
If you want to be notified as soon as new episodes are available, make sure you've subscribed on BBC Sounds.
Exploring and explaining news stories from across England.
Series 5: Sanctuary: An Act of Defiance Viraj Mendis from Sri Lanka begs for sanctuary in an Ascension church. The vicar, Father John Methuen, agrees to protect him defying Thatcher’s government.
Previously on In Detail...
Series 1. The Pub Bombings Exploring the impact of two Birmingham pub bombs in a 50 year evolving story.
Series 2. The Toxic Waste Scandal Explore the shocking events that ripped through a steelworks community in Corby.
Series 3: Felled: The Sycamore Gap Story Hairy Biker Si King investigates who felled the tree at Sycamore Gap in Northumberland.
Series 4: The Jesus Army Uncovering the rise and unravelling of one of the biggest religious cults in Britain.
If you want to be notified as soon as new episodes are available, make sure you've subscribed on BBC Sounds.
A Sri Lankan man begs for sanctuary in a church in 1986.
Viraj Mendis says he faces death if sent back to his home country. Father John Methuen protects him from arrest, risking his reputation and the safety of Ascension church and allows a devoted group to protect him in the church.
Presenter Father Azariah France-Williams is the current rector of Ascension Church. He goes on a journey of discovery, finding out how the Sanctuary gamble leads to a two year culture war that defies Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s authority before crashing down.
Presenter: Father Azariah France-Williams. Producer: Jen Dale. Sound design: Kasel Kundola. Online producer: Rachael Smith. Executive producer: Ciaran Tracey. Additional sound recording by Seb Rabas, Graham Kirk and Jan Seebeck. Original material recorded and licensed by Big City Nights. Executive editor: Andrew Bowman. Commissioning editor: Alistair Miskin. Artwork photograph of Viraj Mendis: Paul Mattsson.