Crossword Genius

Rustic retreat housing a clergyman (5,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rural dean

'clergyman' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'rustic retreat housing a' is the wordplay.
'rustic' becomes 'rural' (similar in meaning).
'retreat' becomes 'den' (both can mean a lair or hideout).
'housing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'den' placed around 'a' is 'dean'.
'rural'+'dean'='RURAL DEAN'

(Another definition for rural dean that I've seen is " Supervisory clergyman".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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