Ecclesiastic is a noun that refers to a priest or member of the clergy.

The Greek word ekklesia (eh KLES ee ah) refers to a ‘church’ or ‘assembly.’ As the word evolved and was imported into Latin, then English, it came to refer to those who were a member of the clergy.

As an official member of the church, Father Brown was able to make many decisions regarding church policy. Still it annoyed him that his privileges as an ecclesiastic didn’t extend to having his own parking space.