Crossword Genius

Clergyman perpetually in split (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

reverend

'clergyman' is the definition.
('reverend' can be a synonym of 'clergyman')

'perpetually in split' is the wordplay.
'perpetually' becomes 'ever' (I've seen this before).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'split' becomes 'rend' (I've seen this before**).
'ever' placed into 'rend' is 'REVEREND'.

(Other definitions for reverend that I've seen before include "Title for clergyman or convent Mother" , "Title of respect for a member of the clergy" , "(Form of address to) clergyman" , "Title of a Protestant clergyman" , "like Father Brown" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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