Distinctive non-clerical records recalled (7)
I believe the answer is:
special
'distinctive' is the definition.
(distinctive can mean special or different)
'non-clerical records recalled' is the wordplay.
'non-clerical' becomes 'laic' (laic means of the laity as opposed to the clergy).
'records' becomes 'EPs' (EP is a type of record).
'recalled' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'laic'+'eps'='laiceps'
'laiceps' reversed gives 'SPECIAL'.
(Other definitions for special that I've seen before include "Particular, distinctive" , "Remarkable" , "Distinguished" , "sort of officer" , "Rare, valuable" .)