The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word CHAPLAIN
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
C
H
A
P
L
A
I
N
More clues leading to the result CHAPLAIN
- Man set to become minister
- Minister takes tea, no milk, no sugar
- Clergyman's a boring Charlie?
- Have tea with modest man of the cloth …
- Clergyman rested south of cove
- Tea with nothing added for minister
- Check with a candid clergyman
- Tea taken with rather uninteresting clergyman
- Film star entertaining a clergyman
- Clergyman in church by a prairie
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "clergyman" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case clergyman = chaplain.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 CHAPLAIN mean?
CHAPLAIN noun- A member of a religious body (often, but not always, of the clergy) officially assigned to give pastoral care at an institution, group, private chapel, etc.
- A person without religious affiliation who carries out similar duties in a secular context.