Possible Clues:

• 'One who looks into the affairs of the church, by the sound of it (5)'
• Abbot's subordinate
• Before (with "to")
• Record listing
• Former abbot's deputy
• Coming before one to ask insensitively for a hearing?
• Order chief to be earlier
• Religious head
• Religious official's reasoning in case of A1
• Former - chief of religious house