Sacred songs initially providing some relief to the poor (6)
I believe the answer is:
psalms
'sacred songs' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'initially providing some relief to the poor' is the wordplay.
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
'relief to the poor' becomes 'alms' (historical term for money given to the poor).
The first letters of 'providing some' is 'ps'.
'ps'+'alms'='PSALMS'
(Other definitions for psalms that I've seen before include "Sacred songs of praise" , "Religious songs" , "Sacred songs or poems" , "They're heard in church" , "Move fast, noisily" .)