Monasticism
The monastic regime developed alongside the earliest English establishment of the Christian Church. The Roman/Irish/English movement stretched over some 600 years. In earliest times there were some who would seek an ascetic form of dedicated, self-severe devotion. This would include the hermit in a cave dwelling and those individuals who requested to be locked up in the confinement of a church building. While there were early signs of established Christianity in southern England early in the 4th century, following its…