The member of the cathedral body responsible for the direction of the choral services, and in the old foundation cathedrals the first dignitary in the cathedral after the dean. In these cathedrals the duties of the office were usually delegated to a deputy, the succentor. In new foundation cathedrals the office is held by a minor canon. At Llandaff and St David’s, the precentor was presbyteral head of the chapter.