Cathedral vs Church
The difference between a cathedral and a church lies in the presence of a bishop, not their sizes. Before diving into this distinction, it is important to understand the context of these buildings within religion. All religions have their unique places of worship, where followers gather to pray and celebrate significant religious events. In Christianity, there are various terms for places of worship, including cathedral, church, chapel, and basilica. This article will clarify the difference between a church and a cathedral.
What is a Church?
A church is operated by priests or a group of clergymen and serves as a house of worship for Christians to pray. Churches can range from simple and plain buildings to grand structures with elaborate decorations. A city can have multiple churches, with no particular distinction between them.
What is a Cathedral?
A cathedral is run under the authority of a bishop, who is the highest-ranking priest in the church and resides within the cathedral. Cathedrals are typically larger than churches and often contain a church within them. A cathedral is considered the largest and chief church of a diocese and houses the bishop’s throne. However, a large church is not automatically a cathedral; it must contain the bishop’s throne to be considered as such. There may be instances where another church in a city is larger than the cathedral. The key feature that differentiates a cathedral from other churches is the presence of the bishop.
Cathedrals are usually associated with older and more traditional Christian denominations, such as Roman Catholics or Eastern Orthodox. Newer denominations like Baptists or Methodists often do not have cathedrals, as they do not have bishops in their hierarchical structure. However, some cathedrals may retain their status even if the organization changes and no longer includes a bishop, such as Glasgow Cathedral.
In Britain, the presence of a cathedral among numerous churches signifies that the location can be classified as a city. This practice began with King Henry VII, who founded dioceses in six locations and granted them the title of “city.” As such, a place can only be considered a city if it has a cathedral.
What is the difference between Cathedral and Church?
- Church and cathedral are two types of Christian places of worship, along with others like chapels, basilicas, minsters, and abbeys.
- A cathedral is often the largest church in a city and houses the bishop, but it does not have to be the largest church to be considered a cathedral.
- The distinguishing feature of a cathedral is the bishop’s throne, not the size of the building. A church becomes a cathedral when it contains this feature.
- A bishop is in charge of a cathedral, while a priest or group of priests is in charge of a church.
- In Britain, a location is classified as a city if it has a cathedral, a practice initiated by King Henry VII when he founded dioceses in various places and designated them as cities.
- A city can have only one cathedral but may have multiple churches.
