About this episode
This episode explores the complex role of medieval churches in providing sanctuary to individuals fleeing the law.
Could a medieval church really protect a killer from the law? From the 40-day asylum of parish churches to the more permanent protections claimed by Westminster Abbey, sanctuary was never simply an escape route, it was a contested space where mercy and authority met. Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Professor Shannon McSheffrey to uncover the extraordinary history of a medieval institution that could save lives, provoke outrage and expose the uneasy balance between bloodshed, forgiveness and power. More: Excommunication in the Middle Ages Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify A Guide to Medieval Churches Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds. Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week, plus early access ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
People in this episode
Host: Dr. Eleanor Janega
Guest: Professor Shannon McSheffrey
Topics covered
- medieval church
- sanctuary
- asylum
- mercy
- authority
- forgiveness
- power
Keywords
- sanctuary
- medieval
- church
- asylum
- forgiveness
- authority
- bloodshed
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: History Hit, Westminster Abbey, Epidemic Sounds
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