Crossword Genius

Small uniform daughter wears guiding signal member of the clergy (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

subdeacon

'member of the clergy' is the definition.
(type of clergyman)

'small uniform daughter wears guiding signal' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'uniform' becomes 'U' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'daughter' becomes 'd' (genealogical abbreviation).
'wears' is an insertion indicator.
'guiding signal' becomes 'beacon' (I've seen this in another clue).
'd' put within 'beacon' is 'bdeacon'.
's'+'u'+'bdeacon'='SUBDEACON'

(Other definitions for subdeacon that I've seen before include "Assistant priest" , "One preparing vessels" , "Junior minister" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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