The History of the Anchorite

Anchorites typically had at least one servant, and some anchor holds were large enough for the servant to live with the anchorite. Since you couldn't leave the cell, you were dependent on someone else to do everything from emptying the chamber pot to procuring food. They might act as teachers or spiritual counselors, and some of those who had been ordained as priests might also act as professors. The formal steps to becoming an anchorite included a religious service with mass and prayers for the dead because after being enclosed, the anchorite was considered dead to the world.