Across answers that were jumbled and partially entered were 5 afar off, 14 hymning, 31 federal, 38 hamlets. Their unused letters gave “herald” and “angels” which were two of the unclued entries. LINE FIVE (asterisked letters) of “Hark! the herald-angels sing” is “Joyful all ye nations rise” and seven unclued entries are countries entered upwards: China, Israel, Senegal, Yemen, Estonia, Laos, Cameroon. The partial entries could then be completed to give “My chains fell off, my heart was free” which are the two “actions” referred to in the preamble. This is from the hymn “And can it be”, where they are followed by the “subsequent actions”: “I rose, went forth, and followed thee”. The final column, initially empty, was to be completed with the name of the hymn writer thus returning to the state after “I rose” and before “(I) went forth”. This made new words in the grid. Although the “herald-angels” line was an alteration to Wesley’s original by George Whitefield, it served to lead to the thematic authentic Wesleyan line.
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
No | Answer | Explanation |
---|---|---|
Clues | ||
1 | SPRING-CLEANER | SPRING + CLEAR about NE(w) |
2 | OPAHS | (SHOP + A) * |
3 | PONYTAIL | (ON + Y(oungster)) in PLAIT * |
4 | SOLI | First letters |
5 | AFAR OFF | A + RAF < + OFF |
5 | FRONTAGER | FOR AGENT * + R |
6 | OFFAL | OFF + AL |
7 | FIORD | FORD about I |
8 | FRUMPED | RUMP in FED |
9 | PHONE | PHONE(y) |
10 | SEA FIR | (AS FEAR IS RIFE) * (giving answer twice) |
11 | RANI | R AND I – D |
12 | LOTA | LOT + A (it) |
13 | FOU | FOUR – R |
14 | HYMNING | HYMEN – E + I(s) + NG |
14 | MOI | MO + I; reference setter |
15 | REARM | REAR + M(en) |
16 | NOTELET | T after (NO + TELE) |
17 | OVERPAINT | PAIN in OVERT |
18 | GIARDIA | GARDA about II (separated); “beast” is slang for policeman, surprisingly not marked as “offensive” in Chambers |
19 | VIENNE | VINE about EN |
20 | CRIB | Two definitions; reference Christmas story |
21 | RAGWORM | (M’ + ROW + GAR) < |
22 | POD | Two definitions; reference school of seals |
23 | ALLICE | ALL ICE |
24 | CASSIA | C(innamon) + ’S in ASIA & lit |
25 | RIBBON | BON after RIN |
26 | BEFANA | (BEF + N + A) about A |
27 | NAE | NAME – M |
28 | STEPH | STEP + H |
29 | PLEURA | (PUR(e) + LEA(d)) * |
30 | AWETOS | (SO + TEW) < after A |
31 | FEDERAL | LAD FREE * |
32 | REEN | GREEN – G |
33 | NOME | OMEN, N (= knight) moved |
34 | SKIO | SKIP – P + O |
35 | EME | E + ME |
36 | EREPSIN | E + REPS + IN |
37 | NEAT | NET if A removed |
38 | HAMLETS | LET in HAMS |
39 | LANCE | LACE about N |