Crossword Genius

Bishop was the head of church's local office (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

branch

'local office' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'bishop was the head of church's' is the wordplay.
'bishop' becomes 'B' (chess abbreviation).
'was the head of' becomes 'ran' (I've seen this in another clue).
'church' becomes 'ch' (common abbreviation).
'b'+'ran'+'ch'='BRANCH'

(Other definitions for branch that I've seen before include "Lateral extension of river or railway" , "Arm" , "Division of a stem" , "Offshoot, subsidiary part" , "Part of tree/river" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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