1 Acknowledge sins and go for reform as ruler helping peasant (4,4,9)

12 Religious representation in Bari convent (4)

13 Be noticed in moving invocation of blessing (11)

14 Stern Rector with sense (4)

15 Breaking ice, ma and uncle moving towards unity (10)

17 Film director Frank in good work, cleaning clothes (10)

19 Upset produced by act utterly inadequate, terrible (4,6)

21 Various diplomas given to good person who writes songs of praise? (10)

23 Trader Ven. wonders about? (4,6)

25 Preach once about creative in the sea (5,5)

28 ‘Make thee an ark of ____________’ (Gen.6:14,AV) (6,4)

32 The chap involved with oil becoming Absalom’s advisor (10)

36 Grammatical term in passage I have put together (10)

38 Short demonstration chart at beginning of year giving study of population (10)

40 Like holy child — coming from the sky to part of hospital! (6-4)

42 Assault can upset seasonal traveller (5,5)

45 Starts to load extremely heavy roast from oven (4)

46 Something for Christmas in middle of street (4)

47 See 10 Down

48 Cush’s son moved base (4)

52 See 10 Down

53 Excuse I needed following new arrangement for bail (5)

54 Inappropriate liaison perhaps in the morning round Abraham’s place? (5)

55 Day that 1 Across sees snow and sumptuous meal Fry’s organised? (3,5,2,7)

Down

 2 Dates a Parish Priest’s forgotten? These might soothe! (9)

 3 Bond entered but not completed, sadly (9)

 4 What sounds like home that couldn’t accommodate mother-to-be (3)

 5 Some people do gallantly, turning up US mathematician (5)

 6 We hear forty in Rome are outstandingly good (5)

 7 Letter from 32 Across (3)

 8 Easy, nods Mandela, to house a lay council member (9)

 9 Wanting to publicise card games, find means of communication (3,6)

10, 23 Down, 40 Down, 23 Down, 52 Across, 47 Across, 52 Across, 11 Down Rider making no noise to be heard and completely audible one — everything’s still and shining in the seasonal air (6,5,4,5,3,2,4,3,2,6)

11 See 10 Down

16 Boring type everybody’s heard (3)

18 Animal initially at stable side (3)

20 A bit of a reckless driver missing nothing (3)

22 ‘Stand in ____, and sin not’ (Psalm 4:4,AV) (3)

23 See 10 Down

24 Recognised, they say, as the ‘king born today’ (3)

26 Fighter among Baalim (3)

27 Ivy’s companion 40? About 50! (5)

29 Hard worker attached to ancient Egyptian king, a pest? (8,3)

30 Enrolled Nurse has to take legal action to get result (5)

31 Witchcraft that upsets Nigerian tribe (3)

33 The man heard in Christmas carol? (3)

34 Character in Hamlet who’s rich to some extent (5)

35 Parent? Oh, he’d somehow construct mathematical figure! (11)

37 Dean’s VIP about to imbibe unknown local drink (3,2,4)

39 Former cashier in trouble in jurisdictions of Orthodox Church (9)

40 See 10 Down

41 Membranes ruined as sea rose (7)

43 Where money is kept over a long time for farming (7)

44 Endless glare from guiding light (4)

49 Rod tackles Latin words in crossword (4)

50 Theologian embracing one old queen or young singer? (4)

51 Leader of animals in a type of drama (4)

Last week's solution