Religious follower encountered brick-carrier first (9)
I believe the answer is:
methodist
'religious follower' is the definition.
(Methodism is a Christian denomination)
'encountered brick-carrier first' is the wordplay.
'encountered' becomes 'met' ('meet' can be a synonym of 'encounter').
'brick carrier' becomes 'hod' (a hod is used for carrying bricks).
'first' becomes 'ist' (ist resembles 1st).
'met'+'hod'+'ist'='METHODIST'
(Other definitions for methodist that I've seen before include "Follower of John and Charles Wesley" , "A follower of Wesleyanism" , "Nonconformist" , "Wesleyan" , "member of congregation?" .)