Growing need for an old soldier to go to church (5)
I believe the answer is:
vetch
'growing need' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.
'an old soldier to go to church' is the wordplay.
'an old soldier' becomes 'vet' (veteran).
'to go to' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'church' becomes 'ch' (abbreviation on maps etc).
'vet'+'ch'='VETCH'
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for vetch that I've seen before include "Climbing plant of the pea family, cultivated as fodder" , "Wild climbing plant" , "Weed" , "Climber" , "Leguminous plant" .)