Minster

Minster is a term used for a large or historically significant church, typically one that originated as, or was associated with, a monastery. The word comes from Old English mynster, which in turn derives from Latin monasterium, and it originally denoted a church serving a monastic community and the surrounding district.

Historically, minsters were not ordinary parish churches. They were often attached to monastic communities or staffed by canons, and they served as religious, educational, and administrative centers for a wide area. The status and privileges of a minster could be granted by royal or episcopal authority and might include rights such as preaching, hosting schools, or exercising market privileges. In modern usage, many churches retain the name minster as a ceremonial or historic designation even when their organizational structure has changed and they function as standard parishes.

Notable examples include York Minster, one of the largest Gothic churches in Northern Europe and the seat of the Archbishop of York. Across the British Isles, several churches retain minster status in name, reflecting their medieval origins. The term also survives in toponymy: places named Minster exist in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, such as Minster, Ohio, and Minster on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, England, with local history often linked to historic minster churches.