The succentor ("under-singer") is the assistant to the
precentor, typically in an ancient
cathedral
A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...
foundation, helping with the preparation and conduct of the liturgy including
psalm
The Book of Psalms ( , ; ; ; ; , in Islam also called Zabur, ), also known as the Psalter, is the first book of the third section of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) called ('Writings'), and a book of the Old Testament.
The book is an anthology of H ...
s,
preces
In Christian liturgical worship, ; ), also known in Anglican prayer as the Suffrages or Responses, describe a series of short petitions said or sung as versicles and responses by the officiant and the gathered worshippers respectively. Versi ...
and
responses. In English cathedrals today, the priest responsible for liturgy and music is usually the precentor, but some cathedrals, such as
St Paul's,
Southwark Cathedral,
Durham, and
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church (, the temple or house, ''wikt:aedes, ædes'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by Henry V ...
, retain a succentor as well.
Lichfield
Lichfield () is a city status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in Staffordshire, England. Lichfield is situated south-east of the county town of Stafford, north-east of Walsall, north-west of ...
used the title ''subchanter''.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British m ...
also retains the tradition;
Brecon Cathedral previously had only a succentor, and no precentor, but this changed in 2022 with the appointment of The Rev'd Canon Steven Griffith to the post of precentor. The only succentor in Australia is at
St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne. The succentor is normally a
minor canon.
Radley College appears to be unique in having a
lay succentor, who is the college organist and assistant to the lay precentor, the director of music.
References
Anglican church music
Anglican ecclesiastical offices
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