Sanctuary Laws

The right of sanctuary was based on the inviolability attached to things sacred. Papal sanction was first given to sanctuary by Leo I, in about AD460. The earliest mention of sanctuary in England was in a code of laws by King Ethelbert in AD600.
The right of asylum was originally confined to the church itself, but in time, its limits were extended to the church precincts, and sometimes beyond. Thus, at Beverley and Hexham, the boundaries of sanctuary extended throughout a radius of a mile from the church, the limits being marked by sanctuary crosses, some of which still exist.

In Norman times, there were two kinds of sanctuary in England; one belonging to every church by prescription, and the other by special Royal charter. The latter was considered much safer and was enjoyed by at least 22 churches, including Battle, Beverley, Colchester, Durham, Hexham, Norwich, Ripon, Wells, Winchester, Westminster and York. Violation of the protection of sanctuary was punishable by excommunication.

Inside some churches was a stone seat, called the frith-stool, on which the fugitive had to sit to establish his claim to protection. More commonly, there was a large ring or knocker on the church door, the holding of which gave the right of asylum. Examples may be seen at Durham cathedral and St. Gregory's, Norwich.
The ecclesiastical right of sanctuary ceased in England at the Reformation in 1534, but was allowed, after that date, to certain non-ecclesiastical precincts, which afforded shelter, chiefly to debtors.

The houses of Ambassadors were also sometimes quasi-sanctuaries. Whitefriars, London, was the last place of sanctuary used in England, and was abolished by Act of Parliament in 1697. In other European countries, the right of sanctuary ceased towards the end of the 18th century.

Having said the above, a case of sanctuary occurred in the 1990s, where a Sri Lankan refugee faced with deportation, sought and received sanctuary in a church .