Half of the clergy in NW town (6)

I believe the answer is:

eccles

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'nw town' is the definition.
(town in the north west of England)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for eccles that I've seen before include "Greater Manchester town, producing its own special cakes since 1793" , "in which goon appears" , "Town after which a cake is named" , "Town in Greater Manchester, selling its own cakes since 1793" , "NW town" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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