Across
1 Abstainer about to accept Eastern church somewhat (9)
6 Place in military unit senior journalist that's captured award (5)
9 Climber almost stuck in spot dislodged bit of ground (5)
10 Broadcast of a glum tale not liked initially by a country (9)
11 Piece from Bible perhaps rector placed in bar (7)
12 Greek character chewing meat left some grain (7)
13 Part of the world reflected in Thai salon? (4)
15 Biblical work linked to row enveloping fellow and wife - and forms of aggression (4,2,3)
18 One in France boarding ship by infernal place getting protection from heat? (9)
19 Chinese leader touring abbey lastly in Irish county (4)
21 One feels a set of holy books woman put back (7)
23 Anglicans entertaining European clan arranged religious supper room (7)
25 Service held in Connecticut beside terribly posh place for getting embroidery? (9)
26 Ancient region covered by mission I attended (5)
27 Fool keeping near to chasm (5)
28 Perhaps a flat sermon half recalled, study in formality (9)

Down
1 Protestant bishop from a public school? Archbishop's first to be replaced by one (6)
2 Four detained by military bigwig concerned with built-up area (5)
3 Father getting agitated about prayer accessory producing later consequence (9)
4 Christian Aid, say, invested in computers etc showing mass of metal (5)
5 Paul's friend sent up with ease possibly with no end of nastiness (9)
6 Occurence archdeacon detected in sci-fi film (5)
7 Unusual zeal in bishop with a means to work very hard (5,4)
8,15,16 Theologian entertaining peer with gold and corpulent star, enthusiast about mass and agreeable hymn (4,4,3,6,2,7)
14 Place of worship excited scary aunt (9)
17 Large ranch established with a new group of agents (8)
20 Slow lawyer getting time in ecclesiastical area (6)
22 Observes a section of music? (5)
23 Chapter plumps for Christians from the Middle East (5)
24 Clergyman immediately following head of cathedral (5)
 

Christmas crossword 

The winners of this year's Church Times Christmas Crossword are Nigel Spoor of Amersham, Mrs P.M. Evans of Manaton, and Mrs Judy Aitken of Lancaster. Each will receive a copy of Beautiful Churches: Saved by the Churches Conservation Trust by Matthew Byrne, kindly donated by Frances Lincoln Ltd.

Last week's solution