The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word SUBDEACON
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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More clues leading to the result SUBDEACON
- Coach turns, then departs with each Tory minister
- Minor cleric's case bound to collapse
- Translated odes with Cuban cleric
- Clergyman foully abused by prisoner
- Minister used bacon in a strange way
- Junior minister abused working party
- Assistant priest to prosecute a cheat about degree
- Use bad, woolly fleece that’s rank in the Church
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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 SUBDEACON mean?
SUBDEACON noun- (chiefly historical) A Catholic clerical rank in the major orders below that of a deacon.
- (chiefly historical) A Catholic cleric who assists the deacon at High Mass and normally reads the Epistle at the Eucharist.
- The highest of the minor orders below that of a deacon