Support for prayer was intrusive and regularly mixed up (4-4)
I believe the answer is:
prie-dieu
'support for prayer' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'was intrusive and regularly mixed up' is the wordplay.
'was intrusive' becomes 'pried' (to pry is to be nosy or intrusive).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'regularly' means one should take alternating letters (regularly take one letter, leave next etc.).
'mixed'+'up'='mixedup'
The alternate letters of 'mixedup' are 'ieu'.
'pried'+'ieu'='PRIE-DIEU'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for prie-dieu that I've seen before include "Piece of furniture used in praying" , "It's knelt on for prayer" , "Desk at which one kneels to pray" , "I'd 1 rupee (anag) - prayer desk" , "On which to kneel and pray" .)