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PODCAST

In Detail...

BBC Local Radio

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

society & culture personal journals

All Episodes

30:37

5. Back to Sri Lanka

In Detail... ·

2025/10/28

Viraj is deported to Sri Lanka despite his supporters’ best efforts to stop the plane.One friend, Charlie Baker, is determined to show the world the dangers by risking his own life.Karen makes a life changing decision when she joins Viraj in Sri Lanka and they get married.Presenter: Father Azariah France-Williams. Producer: Jen Dale. Sound design: Kasel Kundola. Executive producer: Ciaran Tracey. Additional sound recording by Seb Rabas, Graham Kirk and Jan Seebeck. Original material recorded and

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33:31

4. The Raid

In Detail... ·

2025/10/21

Viraj and his supporters’ worst nightmare comes true when Greater Manchester Police carry out a dawn raid on the church and take him away.Father John is left broken and picking up the pieces.Father Azariah meets the woman who stayed by Viraj’s side all through Sanctuary and beyond, the love of his life, Karen.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

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25:16

3. Under Attack

In Detail... ·

2025/10/14

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

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34:02

2. Inside the Sanctuary

In Detail... ·

2025/10/07

Viraj imprisons himself in the Manchester Church and doesn’t step a foot outside. He lives in the vestry and forms a bond with Father John and his family. No one knows how long he will stay there.A team of supporters form the Viraj Mendis Defence Campaign and watch over him 24 hours a day, every day.The media descends to cover the story starting a culture war that will directly challenge Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s authority. Presenter: Father Azariah France-Williams. Producer: Jen

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29:07

1. Viraj and the Vicar

In Detail... ·

2025/09/30

In 1986, Sri Lankan Viraj Mendis faces imminent deportation and seeks the ancient rite of Sanctuary in the Ascension Church in Hulme, Greater Manchester, run by traditional vicar Father John Methuen.Father John agrees to protect him despite Sanctuary no longer having legal validity. The decision kicks off a relationship and a gamble bigger than both of them. It begins a culture war which will also see the church go head to head with the State.Father Azariah France-Williams, the current rector of the

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3:40

Introducing... Sanctuary: An Act of Defiance

In Detail... ·

2025/09/28

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

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28:24

7. End of Days

In Detail... ·

2025/09/08

Ex-Jesus Army members unite in finding their freedom, rebuilding their identity and speaking their truth.For information and support on issues covered in this episode, visit bbc.co.uk/actionline.

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27:36

6. Sins of the Flesh

In Detail... ·

2025/09/01

Thousands mourn and a new generation takes control.Meanwhile criminal confessions about troubling abuse claims are ignored by elders and the pressure mounts.For information and support on issues covered in this episode, visit bbc.co.uk/actionline.

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32:43

5. Judas

In Detail... ·

2025/08/25

Troubling revelations, a heavy conscience, and one man left questioning what to do next.Philippa recalls her visit to court to testify on behalf of her friend 'Gemma' and shares how it led her to question her beliefs and her spiritual family.Meanwhile, the Jesus Army continues as it was before, protecting the community and the elders. For information and support on issues covered in this episode, visit bbc.co.uk/actionline.

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25:33

4. Love, Power and Sacrifice

In Detail... ·

2025/08/17

Street preaching, child look-outs and a police investigation. The vulnerable are drawn into the Jesus Army while a court case looms.For information and support on issues covered in this episode, visit bbc.co.uk/actionline.

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27:21

3. Family Values

In Detail... ·

2025/08/11

Faith, control and growing tension in the Fellowship Church community with wild services, exorcisms and warnings of hidden wrong doing.This episode contains references to exorcism. For information and support on issues covered in this episode, visit bbc.co.uk/actionline.

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26:46

2. Genesis

In Detail... ·

2025/08/04

All new followers were welcome to the Jesus Fellowship, they were given new names and strict rules to become a member of the community.Treasured possessions are left at the door. No media, no music, no belongings and harsh discipline for children.This episode contains references to suicide and the physical punishment of children. For information and support on issues covered in this episode, visit bbc.co.uk/actionline.

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25:33

1. Follow The Leader

In Detail... ·

2025/07/28

Exploring how the Fellowship Church and the 'Jesus Army', led by Noel Stanton, settled in the rural Northamptonshire village of Bugbrooke.The church attracted thousands with promises of Christian faith, community and a better life.

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2:52

Introducing... The Jesus Army Cult

In Detail... ·

2025/07/24

Uncovering the rise and unravelling of one of the biggest religious cults in Britain. Exploring the controversies, abuses and lasting scars left on those who lived within it.Diving deep into the Fellowship Church and the 'Jesus Army', led by Baptist evangelical maverick Noel Stanton in the Northamptonshire village of Bugbrooke.Devotees gave up their homes, their money and in some cases their family to live in Noel’s 'heaven on earth' where everything was shared – even children.Presenter Annabel Amos

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14:22

6. Justice

In Detail... ·

2025/07/16

Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, both from Cumbria, are sentenced in a live-streamed hearing at Newcastle Crown Court. BBC Correspondent Fiona Trott describes the atmosphere on the day.The two men were each convicted of two counts of criminal damage in May.Also, Si King hears whether some of those who loved the tree feel the sentence brings closure before finally returning to Sycamore Gap to see for himself how one of his favourite places has changed forever.Presenter: Si King. Producer: Jane

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16:38

5. A Living Monument

In Detail... ·

2025/07/13

Si King explores what the future holds for Sycamore Gap and what made the tree so special.Discovering people's connection to the tree, the site and the significance of the Hollywood debut in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.Si King also asks whether dark tourism might help preserve interest in the area where the tree once stood and learns of plans for the tree's seeds.Presenter: Si King. Producer: Jane Downs with additional reporting by Jo Lonsdale and Martin Lindsay. Sounds Producer: Alex

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20:33

4. The Reckoning

In Detail... ·

2025/07/13

Step inside the trial of Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, both from Cumbria, who are accused of felling Sycamore Gap.Join journalists, a courtroom artist and an expert witness to hear the evidence and how a grainy two-minute video of the felling found on a phone stunned the entire courtroom into silence.Presenter: Si King. Producer: Jane Downs with additional reporting by Jo Lonsdale and Martin Lindsay. Sounds Producer: Alex Booth. Sound Design: Chris Fawcett. Story Consultant: Barney

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21:09

3. The Night Of

In Detail... ·

2025/07/13

Meet the last person to see Sycamore Gap before it was felled and those who first stumbled upon the aftermath.Also Kevin Reynolds, the Hollywood director who made the tree famous in the film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, hears the news.Meanwhile, as Sycamore Gap becomes a crime scene the men responsible are watching the coverage unfold in amazement. Presenter: Si King. Producer: Jane Downs with additional reporting by Jo Lonsdale and Martin Lindsay. Sounds Producer: Alex Booth. Sound Design: Chris

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20:33

2. The Accusations

In Detail... ·

2025/07/13

As the investigation into who felled Sycamore Gap gets underway, accusations start to fly.One man falsely accused of cutting down the iconic tree was farmer Walter Renwick. In his first broadcast interview he shares how the resulting rumours and "trial by social media" impacted his life.Meanwhile, journalists descend on the communities near Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland and discover a teenager has been arrested. Presenter: Si King. Producer: Jane Downs with additional reporting by Jo Lonsdale and

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16:28

1. All this for a tree?

In Detail... ·

2025/07/13

Hairy Biker Si King documents the global outrage that followed the felling of a beloved landmark that had stood in Northumberland for more than a hundred years.As the two men convicted of criminal damage at Sycamore Gap are sentenced, Si King charts the bizarre theories that began to emerge in the immediate aftermath.It's a story of conspiracy theories, life changing accusations and very odd disguises.Music: Lament for Sycamore Gap appears courtesy of Riccardo Pez.Presenter: Si King. Producer: Jane

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