Previous head of the convent (5)
I believe the answer is:
prior
This clue could be a double definition.
'previous' is the first definition.
(I've seen this before)
'head of the convent' is the second definition.
'prior' can be an answer for 'head' (I have seen 'Religious head ' mean 'prior' so perhaps 'head' could also mean 'prior'). I'm unsure of the 'of the convent' bit.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for prior that I've seen before include "Erstwhile" , "Head of a religious order" , "Clergyman - earlier" , "deputy head in monastery" , "Earlier, coming before another in time" .)