Former monk (5)
I believe the answer is:
prior
This clue is a double definition.
'former' is the first definition.
(both can mean at earlier time)
'monk' is the second definition.
(I know that prior is a type of monk)
(Other definitions for prior that I've seen before include "head of a house of friars" , "High ranking person in monastery" , "figure of authority in retreat" , "Former - chief of religious house" , "Pre-existing; head friar" .)