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.
Tempers fray and the church is attacked. In a fiery sermon, Father John says the Church trumps the State and Viraj is staying.
The Viraj Mendis Defence Campaign begin weekly protests on the streets of Manchester testing Greater Manchester Police, including Sergeant Martin Gaffney.
Also, Father Azariah discovers more about the Sri Lankan civil war with Dr Rajesh Venugopal from the London School of Economics.
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.
Photograph of Viraj Mendis: Paul Mattsson.
