The clergyman is embraced by the holy prior (8)
I believe the answer is:
previous
'prior' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'the clergyman is embraced by the holy' is the wordplay.
'the clergyman' becomes 'rev' (short for reverend).
'is embraced by' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'the holy' becomes 'pious'.
'rev' going into 'pious' is 'PREVIOUS'.
(Other definitions for previous that I've seen before include "form" , "Over-prompt or over-hasty" , "Earlier, occasion say" , "Former, preceding" , "Overhasty; existing earlier" .)