friary

Friary is a building or house in which friars live, or the community itself, belonging to a mendicant order of the Catholic Church. Friars are members of orders such as the Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinians, and Carmelites, who take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and undertake preaching, teaching, and works of mercy rather than seclusion. In English usage, a friary contrasts with a monastery, which houses monks who pursue a more contemplative, enclosed life.

A typical friary includes a church or chapel, cloister, refectory, dormitory, and chapter house; facilities may also support libraries, kitchens, and workshops. The daily routine centers on communal prayer, study, and mission, with friars often engaged in preaching, teaching, and charitable activities in the surrounding towns.

Friaries arose in the 12th and 13th centuries with the rise of mendicant orders in medieval Europe, especially in urban areas and universities. They played a key role in preaching, education, and social welfare, and many acquired land and endowments. In England and other parts of Europe, the Protestant Reformation led to the dissolution of many friaries, with buildings repurposed or destroyed.

Today, friaries remain active houses for mendicant friars in the Catholic Church and, in some regions, in Anglican or other Christian communities. Surviving friaries are often historic landmarks, while others continue to support urban ministry, education, and charitable work.