The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word ORDAINED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
O
R
D
A
I
N
E
D
More clues leading to the result ORDAINED
- Decreed: set gold before man of the North, reported journalist
- Predestined, as curate was
- Men condescended to be heard, getting admitted to church
- Appointed old nutritional guide involved with education
- Men reportedly condescended to be frocked
- Made a father, or ‘Dad’ — champagne gulped, head off
- Made a minister end radio broadcast
- “Wrongly spell Dorian,” editor ordered
- Decreed or condescended in speech
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "admitted to church" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case admitted to church = ordained.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 ORDAINED mean?
ORDAINED verb- To prearrange unalterably.
- To decree.
- To admit into the ministry of a religion, for example as a priest, bishop, minister or Buddhist monk, or to authorize as a rabbi.
- To predestine.
- Established by authority.
- Admitted to the ministry of the church.