Across

1 Highly-strung musicians? (8)

6 Archdeacon always provides cover (6)

9 Girl captivating a Syrian king (6)

10 Having little to eat brings upset to a diner (8)

11 Advanced knowledge from out-of-date scholar (6,2)

12 Comes down from on high, one hears, and exercises sovereignty (6)

13 A gathering of angels, or just St Peter? (8,4)

16 Priest found in north-west town, one about to imbibe wine (12)

19 Disturbance, very loud, during king’s time in office (6)

21 Punishment pronounced in a few words? (8)

23 Mirfield community is having time in e.g. church room (8)

24 Prophet is first-class having heart of oak and holiness primarily (6)

25 Risky enterprise leads to endless hell in the church’s name (6)

26 English writer engaged in exploit more profound (8)

Down

2 Mount short horse, nasty creature (6)

3 Appeals to higher authority in audible worship (5)

4 Impenetrable religious rite into which crowds may be pushed? (5,4)

5 Foreign saint atop the mountains (7)

6 Someone laying down a cross? (5)

7 Move into Chile in old age (9)

8 Calmness of loch after close of the day (poetic) (8)

13 Offer to deliver a sermon? (4,5)

14 Form of religious observance — I learnt it with difficulty (5,4)

15 Junior minister ‘footing’ the bill? That’s right! (8)

17 Tried first of Alternative Services, for example, before conclusions of speculative period (7)

18 Predicament of Egypt’s leader following fight (6)

20 Stand in front of an artist (5)

22 Uplifting English saga brings cheer (5)