Anchorites and anchoresses were an important part of pre-Reformation Christianity across western Europe, but especially in England. Many individuals turned towards the eremitical life in order to secure their own salvation, and many others were eager to support these individuals in order to increase their own chances of redemption. Although the origins of the term can be traced back to the Egyptian Desert Fathers, in medieval England, 'anchorite' addressed a specific vocation that included vows, though formal clerical profession was unnecessary. The three anchoritic vows were chastity, obedience and 'stude steðeleustenesse', or stability of abode. The last is a unique vow among religious professions, as anchorites did not only promise to remain enclosed, but also agreed to remain in one singular location, completely closed off from the world. Thus, architecture becomes an immediate part of the actual vocational parameters of anchoritism.Before embarking on the life of a recluse, the prospective anchoress had to secure permission from her bishop. 1 The candidate's spiritual veracity was tested alongside her financial stability. Once incarcerated, the anchoress became dependent upon her saved financial resources, money from her family, gifts from 'spiritual children' and the largesse of the community as a whole. The anchoritic vocation drew from all social classes, with several instances of peasant class anchoresses being recorded. Nevertheless, most of the surviving evidence surrounding medieval anchoresses reveals the apparent wealth of many of the women, and the majority of them had a servant to attend to daily needs. Moreover, the anchoress was expected to be literate, at least in the vernacular. She was supposed to read and understand her 'rule', and also to read and emulate hagiographies and other spiritually edifying texts.After securing the requisite permissions, the potential recluse then underwent a 'burying ceremony', symbolising her worldly death. After this ceremony, which often included at least a portion of the Requiem Mass, the anchoress was then solemnly enclosed in her cell. After receiving the Last Rites, the entrance was barred and the curtains drawn. The cell became a metaphorical tomb in which the rest of the anchoress's physical life would be spent.Although no set discipline was enforced, since anchorites did not belong to a specific religious order, a number of guidebooks exist that had been created for various individuals or small groups. Of these, Ancrene Wisse, or Guide for Anchoresses, is a