Clergyman always trapped by split (8)
I believe the answer is:
reverend
'clergyman' is the definition.
('reverend' can be a synonym of 'clergyman')
'always trapped by split' is the wordplay.
'always' becomes 'ever' ('ever' can be a synonym of 'always').
'trapped by' is an insertion indicator.
'split' becomes 'rend' (I've seen this before**).
'ever' placed within 'rend' is 'REVEREND'.
(Other definitions for reverend that I've seen before include "Vicar's title" , "Title for clergyman or convent Mother" , "Minister" , "Style of cleric" , "Cleric's title" .)