Church caretaker attacked carrying cross (6)
I believe the answer is:
sexton
'church caretaker' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'attacked carrying cross' is the wordplay.
'attacked' becomes 'seton' (I've seen this in other clues).
'carrying' is an insertion indicator.
'cross' becomes 'x'.
'seton' enclosing 'x' is 'SEXTON'.
(Other definitions for sexton that I've seen before include "Job" , "One looks after church and churchyard" , "parish factotum" , "He arranges the grave" , "Officer of the church on the Irish rugby team?" .)