Two European articles for church official (5)

I believe the answer is:

elder

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'church official' is the definition.
(as in church elders)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for elder that I've seen before include "Woody shrub - used for wine, tea or cordial" , "Shrub, tree" , "Tribal leader; tree" , "Tribal advisor" , "Tree - having lived longer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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