•Women who did not wish to become nuns and subject themselves to a monastic rule might become anchoresses.  Anchoresses lived in enclosed cells attached to churches, and lived a rigorously solitary and contemplative life, although anchoresses sometimes formed small communities of women in connected cells. They usually received food and disposed of waste through a small window.  Because of the asceticism of their lives, anchoresses were held in high repute.

England had few other options for spiritually inclined women – and both nuns and anchoresses (theoretically) lived in seclusion and chastity. In Europe, however, a movement called the Beguines formed to meet the needs of laywomen, married or not, who wanted to devote themselves to spiritual work within the world.  The Beguines lived a life of poverty and chastity, working as nurses and teachers.  Although there was a probationary period to test a prospective beguine’s commitment, members were not required to live in the communal house with their sisters.  The authorities, even on the Continent, however, were uneasy with the autonomy of the Beguines, and tried to suppress the movement.

•Likewise, the Continent also had a tradition of canonesses, women who registered with their church to live together under a rule, but who had more latitude in terms of behavior and property than did nuns.  Moreover, it was often the case that only the abbess was pledged to celibacy.