We have cathedral. It is referred to as a Minster a term first used in the seventh century. William The Bastard and his Norman Viking followers brought the term Cathedral to our shores as they proceeded to destroy a perfectly valid, organised country.
Think York Minster, Southwell Minster, Westminster, Sunderland Minster. Both words mean Church and tend to imply size in today's world. Of course there are exceptions to the size thing, such as the tiny Cathedral in Newcastle. For those who have, understandably, never noticed it, it can be found near the Black Gate.
The word Minster derives from the (Anglo) Sacsen word Mynster which in turn derived from the Latin word Monasterium.
The word Cathederal derives from the the Greek word kathedra, via the Latin word cathedra, both of which mean chair. This began, in late Latin Cathedralis which referred to the Bishop's chair, or seat.
Today the question of whether the Bishop resides in a minster or a cathedral has become blurred. Durham Cathedral has a bishop, so does York, with its Minster.
