Cult I connected to area (7)
I believe the answer is:
section
'area' is the definition.
(section is a kind of area)
'cult i connected' is the wordplay.
'cult' becomes 'sect' (I've seen this before).
'connected' becomes 'on' (synonyms).
'sect'+'i'+'on'='SECTION'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for section that I've seen before include "Part, subdivision" , "unit" , "Element" , "Segment" , "Divide; part" .)