Cryptic Crossword January 2024

Across

1 Reach tailless celestial body (4)

3 Excited a sacred lot of priests (10)

9 Put pews round that curved upwards (7)

11 From pet assorted liquorice (7)

12 English college feast (6,7)

14 After short time the number included article that’s the worse forwear (4-5)

16 Jack and I repeatedly followed you, say, at African meeting-place (5)

17 Bible said to have come from French city (5)

19 Union day lady’s outfit (9)

21 Primate with energy organising religious gathering (6,7)

24 Nudist in the Old Testament? (7)

25 Some alumni lot I commented on to do with African river (7)

26 Singer song-writer (10)

27 Ringer be taking on two learners (4)

Down

1 Building the current fashion, natural diatomic scale (6,4)

2 Animal must go round boat on the way up (7)

4 Arizona detective orold Mexican (5)

5 Spare note translated into a different language (9)

6 Wavy alloy from biblical city used for making blades (8,5)

7 Public transport limitations (7)

8 Strip of wood from machine unfinished (4)

10 Doctrine of destroying masculine mice (13)

13 Left one to curtail arrangement, initially grand inside, of public worship (10)

15 Name something done in legal document (5,4)

18 Aslap-up resort in Sweden (7)

20 Pauline writing (7)

22 Sign put in front of takeaway (5)

23 Carry on playing this instrument? (4)

Prize Draw

A £20 book token will be awarded to the first correct cryptic crossword solution randomly selected from all correct entries received by the submission deadline. Entries should be addressed to:

Life and Work (Crossword) 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN and should be received by January 14. The solution will be published in the February issue and the prize winner in the March issue.

Winner of November 2023 Cryptic Crossword P GWilson, Newton Stewart

Solution to December 2023 Cryptic Crossword

ACROSS: 1 Music, 4 Psalmodic, 9 Notable, 10 Gavotte, 11 Benedictine, 13 Old, 14 Alcove, 15 Galactic, 18 Coventry, 20 Sexton, 23 Mat, 24 Reformation, 25 Socager, 26 Organic, 28 Sanctuary, 29 Peril.

DOWN: 1 Mont Blanc, 2 Satanic, 3 Cob, 4 Preach, 5 Anglican, 6 Movie camera, 7 Detroit, 8 Creed, 12 Divine right, 16 Canonical, 17 Pro-forma, 19 Vatican, 21 Thinner, 22 Priory, 23 Moses, 27 Gap.

Bible Quiz January 2024

1. What books come before and after Proverbs?

2. In Acts, which disciple did Herod have put to the sword?

3. The book of Nahum is a prophesy about the fall of where?

4. What is the last word in the Bible?

5. According to Peter in Acts, what did Judas do with his payment for betraying Jesus?

Answers 1 Psalms before and Ecclesiastes after | 2 James, brother of John 3 Nineveh | 4 Amen | 5 He bought a field