As nouns the difference between prior and rector
is that
prior is a high-ranking member of a monastery, usually lower in rank than an abbot while
rector is in the Anglican Church, a cleric in charge of a parish and who owns the tithes of it.
As an adjective prior
is of that which comes before, in advance.
As an adverb prior
is previously.
As a proper noun Rector is
an English surname; derived from the German surname
Richter.