Saint taking long time to grasp point (5)
I believe the answer is:
agnes
'saint' is the definition.
(St Agnes)
'long time to grasp point' is the wordplay.
'long time' becomes 'ages' (I've seen this in another clue).
'to grasp' is an insertion indicator.
'point' becomes 'n' (North).
'ages' placed around 'n' is 'AGNES'.
'taking' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for agnes that I've seen before include "Scandinavian singer" , "The Eve of St. - (Keats)" , "Girl's name" , "David's second wife" , "Patron saint of virgins" .)