The precentor

Was it stressful to be a monastic official?
Yes, monks felt the stresses and strains of their duties and Matthew of Rievaulx, who was precentor of the abbey in the early thirteenth century, complained of the burdens of this job and the impact on his health. He maintained that having led the night office for a month he suffered exhaustion and insomnia, and was quite literally falling apart.

The precentor directed the church services and led the singing. He stood in the right-hand side of the choir, on the same side as the abbot, where he encouraged singing and ensured that the monks paid attention during the service. The precentor was also responsible for keeping the liturgical books safe and in a good state of repair. The precentor was helped in his duties by the succentor (subcantor), who stood on the opposite side of the choir.

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