Member of the clergy and royal always close (8)
I believe the answer is:
reverend
'member of the clergy' is the definition.
(reverends are members of the clergy)
'royal always close' is the wordplay.
'royal' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
'always' becomes 'ever' (synonyms).
'close' becomes 'end' (close can mean to end or finish).
'r'+'ever'+'end'='REVEREND'
'and' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for reverend that I've seen before include "Title for clergyman or convent Mother" , "Title of respect for a clergyman" , "like Father Brown" , "Clergyman's title" , "Priest's title" .)