where a vicar was to pound it in a mortar

This is a cryptic-style crossword clue, and the intended answer is “BRAY.”

How the clue works

• “Where a vicar was” indicates the parish or place associated with a vicar, often leading to “BRAY,” the name of a village in Berkshire, England.

• “To pound it in a mortar” defines the verb “bray,” which means to crush or pound in a mortar.