Western farm operated by church (5)
I believe the answer is:
ranch
'western farm' is the definition.
'ranch' can be an answer for 'farm' (ranch is a kind of farm). I'm unsure of the 'western' bit.
'operated by church' is the wordplay.
'operated' becomes 'ran' ('run' can be a synonym of 'operate').
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'church' becomes 'ch' (abbreviation on maps etc).
'ran'+'ch'='RANCH'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ranch that I've seen before include "pastoral scheme" , "agricultural land" , "Cattle breeding farm" , "where stock is held" , "US livestock farm" .)