In ritual a majestic figure of the church (4)
I believe the answer is:
lama
'figure of the church' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'in ritual a majestic' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'LAMA' is hidden within 'ritual a majestic'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lama that I've seen before include "A Buddist monk in Tibet" , "Religious leader" , "Holy man in Tibet" , "A Tibetan Buddhist priest or monk" , "Dalai . . . ., chief priest and once ruler of Tibet" .)