UK - London - Westminster - Sanctuary of Westminster Abbey
August 2012.
Lunchtime walk around Westminster.
The Sanctuary at Westminster Abbey was a place of refuge within the precincts where people could flee temporarily from persecution. The right of sanctuary (Lat. sanctuarium, holy place), was the right of a person to protection or asylum within consecrated ground, founded on an ancient belief that one entering assumes part of the holiness of a place. It would be committing sacrilege to remove the person from the sacred place, so the right of sanctuary was considered inviolable.
One of the most famous people who claimed sanctuary was Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of Edward IV.
UK - London - Westminster - Sanctuary of Westminster Abbey
August 2012.
Lunchtime walk around Westminster.
The Sanctuary at Westminster Abbey was a place of refuge within the precincts where people could flee temporarily from persecution. The right of sanctuary (Lat. sanctuarium, holy place), was the right of a person to protection or asylum within consecrated ground, founded on an ancient belief that one entering assumes part of the holiness of a place. It would be committing sacrilege to remove the person from the sacred place, so the right of sanctuary was considered inviolable.
One of the most famous people who claimed sanctuary was Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of Edward IV.