Abbey church

An abbey church is a Christian house of worship . As a rule, it is identical to the church of a monastery , which is presided over by an abbot or an abbess . With very few exceptions, there are only abbey churches in those monasteries of the old prelate orders that have the rank of abbey .

Special forms

An abbey cathedral is sometimes used to describe an abbey church that also serves as the cathedral of a bishopric-like area, which the abbot of the monastery presides over as territorial abbot or abbot bishop.

As Abbey Basilica also those abbeys that also the title of a papal refers Basilica Minor wear.