Coppers locate writer in square by church (9)
I believe the answer is:
ninepence
'coppers' is the definition.
(copper coins)
'writer in square by church' is the wordplay.
'writer' becomes 'pen' (something which writes).
'in square' becomes 'nine' (nine is a square number. I am not sure about the 'in' bit.).
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'church' becomes 'CE' (abbreviation for Church of England).
'pen' put after 'nine' is 'ninepen'.
'ninepen'+'ce'='NINEPENCE'
'locate' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ninepence that I've seen before include "amount of old money" , "Three-quarters of a shilling" , "Using old money, had one over the eight" , "in a right old state" .)