St Michael's reform of medieval metallurgists (10)

I believe the answer is:

alchemists

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'medieval metallurgists' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'st michael's reform' is the wordplay.
'reform' indicates an anagram (letters in a new form).
'st'+'michaels'='stmichaels'
'stmichaels' with letters rearranged gives 'ALCHEMISTS'.

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for alchemists that I've seen is " Early scientists".)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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