06/09/2009

Mike Wooldridge explores the life and legacy of an extraordinary Yorkshire woman, Mary Ward. She scandalised the church authorities of her day by redefining religious life for women, walked across the Alps several times to plead her cause in Rome, suffered imprisonment and ill-treatment, and when she died her few remaining companions had to bribe a vicar to bury her.

400 years on, the Orders she founded are working throughout the world and vast congregations are gathering to celebrate her astonishing story.