The original church was probably a monasteryMonastery The house of a religious community or minsterMinster Originally a church with a group of clergy which served a large area. Later used to describe a church staffed by many priests or a monastic community founded inside a ruined Roman fort in the late 7th or early 8th century. While the current church dates largely from the 14th or 15th century a carved cross of the 8th century (now in the British Museum) shows the presence of an important church community in that period. One of the most impressive pieces is a carved slab showing a stag, dating from the 10th century. Other pieces of carved stone from the early churchEarly Church Usually applied to the first three centuries of the development of Christianity from the Crucifixion of Christ to c. 325 (the Council of Nicea). can be seen in Lancaster Museum, although the church has plaster-cast replicas on display.