Christmas Crossword Prize

The senders of the first three correct solutions opened on 15 January will win a copy of The Revised English Hymnal: Full music edition by the English Hymnal Company, and kindly donated by Canterbury Press.

The Revised English Hymnal is a completely new and updated edition of The English Hymnal: a major revision designed for the liturgical needs of worship today. It includes general hymns; hymns for feasts, seasons, and saints’ days; office hymns for the liturgical year; an enlarged eucharistic section; responsorial psalms; new mass settings; Welsh hymns translated by Rowan Williams; and hymns from the world Church.

Send your competition entries by 15 January to Christmas Crossword, Church Times, 3rd Floor, Invicta House, 110 Golden Lane, London EC1Y 0TG.

A Service of Nine Lessons and Carols

Each annotated carol (some traditionally regarded as hymns) or extended description of a lesson in the list below includes a definition (in the normally printed section) of the answer plus a mixture of the letters of that answer in the italicised section, beginning at the beginning and/or ending at the ending of a word. Grid locations are given in brackets and lengths are given in the clue listings.

Carol 1: Once in Royal David’s city we spotted Margaret Thatcher (55A)

Lesson 1: Here God tells Adam his seed will bruise the serpent’s head (4D)

Carol 2: This is the truth sent from above (Herefordshire Carol) – source of divine revelation (1D)

Lesson 2: Scholars know that God promises Abraham that the nations of the earth shall be blessed (38D)

Carol 3: While shepherds watched their flocks by night they saw item I can’t recall (44D)

Lesson 3: Different prophet foretells the coming of the Saviour (30A)

Carol 4: In the bleak mid-winter in enthusiastic style (14A)

Lesson 4: The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown by diplomat (12A)

Carol 5: Designation of  O little town of Bethlehem (5) (13A)

Lesson 5: Motivating, the angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary (27A)

Carol 6: Away in a manger – rendered like Stille Nacht? (6) (28D)

Lesson 6: St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus in letter to Hebrews? (49A)

Carol 7: Unto us is born a son – they’re noble people (6) (43D)

Lesson 7: The shepherds go to the manger in church song (5D)

Carol 8: On Christmas night all Christians sing  - they may praise the King (54A)

Lesson 8: Scholarly wise men are led by the star to Jesus (34A)

Carol 9: The angel Gabriel from heaven came – appearing as a threat? (35A)

Lesson 9: St John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation regarding the nations (26A)

Carol 10: O come, all ye faithful – cathartic stuff (7D)

Carol 11: Records of Hark! the herald-angels sing (24D)

Across

1 Finished with drinks in shared areas (8)

5 Icy rainfall damaged flowering plant (7,4)

12 Lesson 4 (7)

13 Carol 5 (5)

14 Carol 4 (4,3)

15 One of two odd contributions from Lady and her husband (4)

16 Reacquaint regarding Biblical texts, including nothing in French (8)

17 Wind, fog and 50 per cent reduction in rain before end of April (7)

19 Artist backing well-developed structure for sculpture (8)

21 Rock group rapped and fled in confusion (3,7)

25 No Scottish company receiving backing in sea area (5)

26 Lesson 9 (6)

27 Lesson 5 (7)

30 Lesson 3 (7)

32 Expression of sadness beginning to transform vision (5)

33 Historic regret returning for French scientist (7)

34 Lesson 8 (7)

35 Carol 9 (6)

36 Some Hardy hero seen in retrospect as monstrous figure (5)

39 Spread praise after meal almost completed (10)

41 Good – our oil’s flowing – splendid! (8)

45 Ministers beginning to unpack, getting stuck into boxes (7)

47 No area in China transformed from the time of devastating flood? (8)

49 Lesson 6 (4)

51 Subsequent edition regarding island petition (7)

52 Peculiar charm shown by a city, self-styled (5)

53 Turncoat’s latest motive for betrayal (7)

54 Carol 8 (11)

55 Carol 1 (4,4)

Down

1 Carol 2 (6)

2 Completely eliminate a pretext I contrived (9)

3 Delicate song about source of charity (4)

4 Lesson 1 (7)

5 Lesson 7 (6)

6 X-ray scientist divided information about oxygen (8)

7 Carol 10 (7)

8 European country brought in a lot of home microwaves (5)

9 Give eternal life to its memorial after rebuilding (11)

10 American sang Swiss-style perhaps, oddly upset with two Europeans (7)

11 Christmas symbol? Gaze endlessly (4)

18 Rock group in street near a London cathedral (4,6)

20 New arrangement unwise after receiving expression of incomprehension (6)

22 Examines unseemly to-do about hospital chaplains etc. (10)

23 Contemporary occasion not entirely about Old English verse (6)

24 Carol 11 (7)

26 Relaxed when jumping into rising river (5)

27 Fool’s swallowed line on two occasions (5)

28 Carol 6 (6)

29 Apostle last up after going out (2,4)

31 Tries awkwardly to probe justification, making further claim (11)

37 Days fiddling with pipes — internal disruption? (9)

38 Lesson 2 (8)

39 December discussion group not displaying fine and proper behaviour (7)

40 Pray wings of eagles may be seen in tree (7)

42 Cleric seen around a nuclear establishment (7)

43 Carol 7 (6)

44 Carol 3 (6)

46 Stun gun making you stare awkwardly (5)

48 Try, with courage running short (4)

50 Study occupied by a cathedral cleric (4)

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