Some change got from writer before church (5)
I believe the answer is:
pence
'some change' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Small change ' mean 'pence' so perhaps 'change' could also mean 'pence')
'writer before church' is the wordplay.
'writer' becomes 'pen' (something which writes).
'before' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'church' becomes 'CE' (Church of England).
'pen'+'ce'='PENCE'
'got from' is the link.
(Other definitions for pence that I've seen before include "They were hundredths of a pound" , "Money used to be pounds, shillings and ....." , "Old coins" , "Small change" , "Little coins" .)