The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms - sanctuary n.

1) sanctum, shrine, chapel, temple, church, house of worship, house of God; synagogue, mosque, pagoda: All of us retire at this time to the sanctuary for evening prayer. 2) asylum, refuge, retreat, protection, shelter, safety: Formerly, criminals could seek sanctuary in churches. 3) (nature or wildlife) reserve or preserve, reservation, conservation area, national park: If housing is built here, it will destroy the bird sanctuary.