Former chief of community (5)
I believe the answer is:
prior
This clue could be a double definition.
'former' is the first definition.
(both can mean at earlier time)
'chief of community' is the second definition.
'prior' can be an answer for 'chief' (thesaurus). I'm unsure of the 'of community' bit.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for prior that I've seen before include "head of a house of friars" , "head of a religious community" , "English keeper" , "Antecedent" , "Foregoing - cleric" .)