The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word ORGAN
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
O
R
G
A
N
More clues leading to the result ORGAN
- No rag, badly edited, may be considered a newspaper
- Algerian port accommodating golf magazine
- Own goal to include Republican article in periodical
- Oscar managed to get hold of golf magazine
- Mouthpiece for musical instrument
- Instrument with keyboard and mouthpiece
- Mouthpiece for instrument
- Newspaper article following gold mining's end?
- “Nothing right!” — one going on about instrument
- Music producer of Heart?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Ear, perhaps/what’s played in church" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case ear, perhaps/what’s played in church = organ.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ORGAN mean?
ORGAN noun- A larger part of an organism, composed of tissues that perform similar functions.
- (by extension) A body of an organization dedicated to the performing of certain functions.
- A musical instrument that has multiple pipes which play when a key is pressed (the pipe organ), or an electronic instrument designed to replicate such.
- An official magazine, newsletter, or similar publication of an organization.
- Short for organ pipe cactus.
- The penis.
- To supply with an organ or organs; to fit with organs.