Across

1 Wheeled acrobat and Saint Catherine get on with monarch (12)

9 Latins snarl, furious with Zibia (10)

10 Boss sacking extreme elements of dimwits (4)

11 Degree course in violin with bands (8)

12 I’ll come into property with another heroic irregular (6)

13 Lass from Benidorm (4)

15 Theologian in many chains eats scraps (6,4)

17 Chant in county close to London area (10)

19 Chapter of the Koran? It’s about Sumerian city (4)

20 In Chartres I married imperfect prayer leader (6)

22 Drink keeping Levi animated (8)

24 Prophet who was KO’d by Rocky M in 1951 (4)

25 What spiders do for campions (10)

26 Hard punk, preacher almost converted (12)

Down

2 Parrot crossing half of Zion (5)

3 Floricultural craze in Mali utopian slammed (11)

4 Rude fellow Doctor of Education resolutely opposed (7)

5 Service missed by maiden Jenny (3)

6 Dealers out of beer stocking anything (9)

7 Synagogue leader trimmed bun (5)

8 Fabric applied to seventh of curtains in Greek island (8)

12 Chloe on Pils trashed soldier’s office (11)

14 Dick, film star Ben and Jack Daniel? (9)

16 Elymas, say, wasting day playing recorders (8)

18 Resurrected disciple some thought a bit handsome (7)

21 Ruth possibly follows English online bible? (1-4)

23 Greek dialect confused police but not priest (5)

25 Bathroom in deficient wedding venue (3)

Last week’s solution

As the setter’s vicar was recently consecrated as bishop, there is a hidden message: EGHAM GREETS ESTHER PRIORBISHOP of ASTON

Solution to No. 1752

Congratulations to the winners of the Church Times Christmas crossword: Peter Owen, of Liverpool; Hugh Pierce, of Ipswich; and Jackie and Kevin Walsh, of Bexleyheath, who will be receiving a copy of The Book of Kells: Unlocking the enigma by Victoria Whitworth, which has been kindly donated by Head of Zeus.  

Last week's solution