Pagan officiant, arranging step, rises (9)

I believe the answer is:

priestess

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'pagan officiant' is the definition.
'priestess' can be an answer for 'officiant' (I've seen this before). I'm unsure of the 'pagan' bit.

'arranging step rises' is the wordplay.
'arranging' indicates an anagram.
'step'+'rises'='steprises'
'steprises' anagrammed gives 'PRIESTESS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for priestess that I've seen before include "Hero, possibly" , "18 minister of religion" , "Vestal virgin perhaps" , "Female hierophant" , "Holy woman" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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