8 Measure Zephaniah’s contribution (4)

 9 Hermit’s practice? There’s a doubt when piano’s removed (10)

10 Like nurses associated with Christian soldiers? (6)

11 Protest at murderer’s return — he’s possessed (8)

12 Ear bent back catching first of evening offices in Holy Week (8)

14 Section of sacred allegory relating to belief (6)

16 But Jesus came to do this. . . (4)

17 . . . cruelly slain, pierced by these (5)

18 Wise man, one not appearing in picture (4)

19 Tradesman offers comic with final section missing (6)

21 Administrator doing ‘late work’? (8)

23 Eliminating swearing about Anglican church leaders (8)

26 US money gets first class bread in Vilnius (6)

27 Oddly banal measure scuppered Hitler’s demand for land (10)

28 Description of acid that’s worn away edges of gnome’s place (4)

Down

 1 Writers in Old English with identical magic words (4,6)

 2 Early Christian offspring of Ezra and Anne? (8)

 3 Theologian in genuine upset — one may be up against the wall (6)

 4 Killed and cut up, head to foot (4)

 5 Mysterious chasms enthralling to bears (8)

 6 Southern church accepts fake candlestick (6)

 7 Bones of saints, Saint Alban primarily (4)

13 Banish abroad former revolutionary priest (5)

15 Old chap in classic Ford shows excessive love of country (10)

17 Flowers in sacristy going off — last two thrown out (8)

18 Grieving doctor takes large amount of tea? (8)

20 Abandon last trace of sin — tradition forbids it in Lent (6)

22 Spots rising politician’s lodge in temporary situation (6)

24 Loud support rising for Imperial measures (4)

25 Clobber part of mechanism (4)

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