Church getting a simple cleric (8)
I believe the answer is:
chaplain
'cleric' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'church getting a simple' is the wordplay.
'church' becomes 'ch' (common abbreviation).
'getting' says to put letters next to each other.
'simple' becomes 'plain' (associated in meaning).
'ch'+'a'+'plain'='CHAPLAIN'
(Other definitions for chaplain that I've seen before include "Clergyman attached to an organisation" , "man of God" , "Member of the clergy attached to an institution" , "man of the cloth" , "Regimental clergyman" .)