Ancient doctor's assistant taking shelter at church (5)
I believe the answer is:
leech
'ancient doctor's assistant' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'shelter at church' is the wordplay.
'shelter' becomes 'lee' (as in lee side, the side sheltered from wind).
'at' says to put letters next to each other.
'church' becomes 'ch' (common abbreviation).
'lee'+'ch'='LEECH'
'taking' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for leech that I've seen before include "Blood-sucking worm or parasitic person" , "Blood-sucking worm or parasitical person" , "Worm - sponger" , "and one of his remedies" , "One used to bleed" .)