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Minsters were one of the earliest ecclesiastical centres founded in England, a type of monastery. They were missionary stations, served by a group of monks, often, in the earliest days, with nuns also, leading a communal, celibate life. Some, if not all of the monks were ordained. There were two kinds of minster: Head Minsters, very like our cathedrals and Old Minsters, often called mother churches serving the needs of extensive areas. Stonegrave was an Old Minster. many of these old minsters were founded by kings to serve their widespread estates and their abbots could rule over other minsters on royal lands quite distant from each other.