Jerk from church followed bird (6)
I believe the answer is:
wrench
'jerk' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'church followed bird' is the wordplay.
'church' becomes 'ch' (common abbreviation).
'followed' says to put letters next to each other.
'bird' becomes 'wren' (wren is a kind of bird).
'ch' put after 'wren' is 'WRENCH'.
'from' is the link.
(Other definitions for wrench that I've seen before include "Violent twist; tool" , "Kind of spanner or severe twist" , "Twisting tool" , "Emotional pain felt on parting" , "Pull awkwardly (away)" .)