Former axis for religious building (6)
I believe the answer is:
priory
'religious building' is the definition.
'former axis' is the wordplay.
'former' becomes 'prior' (I've seen this before).
'axis' becomes 'y'.
'prior'+'y'='PRIORY'
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for priory that I've seen before include "Religious residence" , "Abbotless monastery" , "Convent subject to an abbey" , "Religious community" , "Religious house of monks or nuns" .)