Lines in top-notch article on church association (8)
I believe the answer is:
alliance
'association' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'lines in top-notch article on church' is the wordplay.
'lines in' becomes 'll' (two abbreviations for line. I am not sure about the 'in' bit.).
'top notch' becomes 'ai' (resembles 'Al', old-fashioned term for excellent).
'article' becomes 'an' (indefinite article).
'on' means one lot of letters goes inside another (as in clothing 'on' a person).
'church' becomes 'CE' (abbreviation for Church of England).
'ai'+'an'='aian'
'll' inserted within 'aian' is 'allian'.
'allian'+'ce'='ALLIANCE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for alliance that I've seen before include "Union for mutual benefit" , "Federation" , "Bond" , "Association for mutual benefit" , "Marriage - union" .)