What is the difference between Abbey and Cathedral?

Abbeys are a group of infrastructures comprised of many minor buildings, such as a separate monastery, convent, or a place in which gifts are received. It is also a commonplace of worship among other specialized centers, and each center is designed for a specific purpose such as living, communing, praying, and other events.

An abbot or abbess is the head of the abbey. Cathedral is more tightly connected to a typical church. Unlike most churches, the cathedral is the main church or religious institution in a certain diocese. The head of the church is the bishop. The word cathedral is popularly accepted as a noun which pertains to a structure or building and place of worship.

All Catholics need a place of worship to show their love for God and grow closer with one. Thankfully, Catholics have a number of places of worship to choose from. Two of those places of worship are an abbey and a cathedral.

One of the differences between them is who they are headed by. Abbey's are headed by Abbot or Abbess, which are spiritual fathers and mother's. A cathedral is headed by a bishop.

Another difference between them is how they are regarded. An abbey is seen as a dwelling, while a cathedral is seen as a church where services are held.

An abbey simply refers to a society of people, secluded from the world and devoted to different religious activities, which is headed by an abbess (the spiritual mother) and abbot (the spiritual father). An abbey can as well be referred to as a monastery where religious people dwell, but it is bigger than a monastery since it contains different infrastructures that are used for different purposes.

For instance, an abbess consists of buildings meant for activities like counseling, praying, grooming, etc. On the other hand, a cathedral is most times referred to as a church because, just like for most churches, the main reason behind the creation of a cathedral is to serve as a place of worship.

However, a cathedral, in its actual meaning, is a principal church which serves as the central church of a diocese. While abbeys are headed by abbesses and abbots, cathedrals are headed by bishops.