The centre square can be filled if you take an oblique view

Across

1 A hoard of riches is endless delight of course (8)

6 Formal neckwear in a strong box mostly worn by a vicar primarily (6)

9 Stop living? It could become tedious, endlessly (3,3)

10 Abstaining from  drink we hear, a dram and short beer (8)

11 Carnivores have most of dinner e.g. with a bit of egg in spuds informally (4-6)

12 Primate has a cross for the summit (4)

13 A believer in Chinese philosophy in station mostly demolished (6)

14 A senior nurse mostly a friend to boy (6)

15 A place to have a holiday or relax outside (6)

17 Middle of year’s one mostly with sun (6)

20 Cat often seen in large numbers? (4)

21 Frantic with worry, doctor is taught to be relaxed (10)

23 Pasta tubes are consumed by radio pioneer with Roman Catholic backing (8)

24 Bob, a maker of mints, retired (6)

25 Utensils for a hot drink — make fun of the last in pot (6)

26 A pillow e.g. for the boss and everyone else (4-4)

Down

2 This river is yours when the time is right (5)

3 A long time with a lot of opportunities to praise the lord (1,5,2,7)

4 Surprisingly what sun turns ice into water (7)

5 Jewish woman in the Bible — she’s there (look inside) (6)

6 Church otherwise linked to a London borough (7)

7 Dragons swimming in rivers, one tailless and one headless — here’s a scientist’s count (9,6)

8 Mycenaean leader in a Greek army initially, a thousand men chaotic in operation (9)

13 Finish training in a term plus a half-term (10)

16 British soldier formerly or cadet being trained (7)

18 Upset true religious instruction academy in old Italian state (7)

19 First class amateur taken in by one quiet prophet (6)

22 Instruments seen on animal’s head (5)

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