Have you ever wondered why this building that could have been called a church was actually a chapel? And why this immense edifice turns out to be a basilica and not a cathedral? Is it to do with the size, the period of construction, or the community that occupies it? A question of relics or saints? We take the mystery out of what makes the difference by sharing our answers.
The term “Church”, with a capital letter, refers to all the baptized who have faith in the risen Jesus Christ. Its spiritual leader is the Pope. It is organized into parishes and dioceses.
From the 3rd century onwards, a church has also meant a building dedicated to Christian worship, where members of the Church gather to celebrate mass.
Cathedrals, basilicas, chapels, abbeys, priories and collegiate churches are all dedicated to the celebration of worship. Here are a few definitions of what makes them different.
Cathedral
This is the main church of a diocese, where the local bishop’s seat is located, symbolizing his authority and apostolic mission. It takes its name from the cathedra, the seat reserved for the bishop.
Chartres, Le Puy-en-Velay.
Abbey church
It refers to the church of an abbey. The abbey church is always surrounded by a monastery, a cloister and various rooms such as a refectory, a library…
Le Mont Saint Michel.
Basilica
The term Basilica dates back to Roman times, when Christians built their first churches on the model of the “basilica” public buildings of the Roman Empire.
A Basilica is a particular church that obtains its title by papal decision because it is built on the tomb of a Saint, contains relics, or because the site is the object of a pilgrimage. A cathedral can also be a basilica, provided it meets the conditions listed above.
Lisieux, Saint-Maximin et La Sainte-Baume, Lourdes, Ars-sur-Formans, Paray-le-Monial, Thierenbach, Vézelay, Rocamadour, Lalouvesc, La Salette, Alençon, Le Puy-en-Velay, Chartres.
Chapel
It can refer to a church that does not have the status of a parish church, or to a room reserved for worship in a private building such as a castle, a house or a seminary. Chapels are also located on the sides of a church. However, they always have an altar, and sometimes contain holy relics.
Alençon, Nevers…
Priory
Church under the authority of a Prioress. It is attached to a priory and was formerly reserved for monks.
Souvigny, Paray-le-Monial
Collegiate church
It’s still called that, but this church, entrusted to a college or chapter – a group – of priests called canons, no longer necessarily receives the sung Divine Office, which was its original specificity.
