Sanctuary - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition sanctuary

Definition :

Sanctuary, privilege of, existed in England from a period commencing soon after the conversion of the Saxons to Christianity. Its effect was that a person accused of any crime except treason or sacrilege might by flying to any church or churchyard, or even to certain other places in Westminster, Wells, Norwich, or York, or in London to Whitefriars or the Savoy, within forty days, on confession and taking oath of abjuration of the realm (see ABJURATION), escape to a foreign country, under the disability of not being able to return without the royal licence. If arrested during the forty days, he might put in the plea of Sanctuary. The privilege extended to civil as well as criminal process, but was attended by attainder of blood and forfeiture of goods.

Sanctuary and abjuration were abolished in 1625 by 21 Jac.1, c. 21, after having been restricted by 26 Hen. 8, c. 13, 27 Hen. 8, c. 19, and 39 Hen. 8, c. 12.

Means an area declared as a sanctuary by notification under the provisions of Chapter IV of this Act and shall also include a deemed sanctuary under sub-s. (4) of s. 66. [Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (53 of 1972), s. 2(26)]