Each clue is a double clue consisting of two clues run together but separated by a redundant word. The 26 initial letters of the redundant words spell out a seasonal quotation. The letters against each clue show which answer comes first (the one to Grid A on the left or the one to Grid B on the right).
Across
5 A,B Europeans, strange people crossing river, admired religious code, something told mostly by wet soil (6;6)
6 B,A Agitate purist, awfully nice female relative outside a church (6;6)
8 B,A Blessing from ex-Pope enthralling one curate finally, generous Pentecostal gift completely picked up with enthusiasm (10:6,4)
10 A,B Promise a hot exceptionally energy-sapping Christmas – no energy left (4,4)
11 B,A Tease return of gold book, luxurious service-book, and fail almost completely (6;6)
13 A,B Encourages popular features of church architecture suggesting driver takes company to a church many ultimately overlooked (8; 8)
14 A,B Halted car having cracked large church frontage – I felt fear, shattering hope of heavenly existence? (9; 9)
18 B,A Emperor’s mother hasn’t unfortunately to consume stewed eel requiring married brother in continental area to provide delectable food (2,6; 8)
20 A,B Minister’s mulled wine obviously a concession, knocked back before prescribed medicinal drink (6; 6)
21 B,A Christmassy weather in South currently making part of Frome moist, note (4; 4)
22 A,B Boss to circle article: ‘That topic has and is developed in seasonal piece’ (10; 3,7)
24 B,A Messenger, determined to embrace sources of recent Advent happiness, marks holy men showing shift in character (6; 6)
25 B,A Activity with Scotsman recalled in name of God, expressed in accepting Ichthys? On the contrary, stop (6;6)
Down
1 A,B Extremely contrary Yankee priest renounced merriment, praying all the time finally (4;4)
2 B,A Joyful short canticle introducing northern expression to lips, excitedly cut by Kentucky chaplain (8; 3,5)
3 A,B Male model rising for ‘prayer’ addressed goddess, later entering drinkers’ self-help group (6;6)
4 A,B The French added to dire records: last bishop oversaw church services, failing small members (10;10)
5 B,A ‘Jesus, our star’, they say, more original somehow but lacking in traditional doxology (3;3. 6)
7 B,A Religious art from Mondrian, since solving priestly reformer’s clue others uncovered (6;6)
9 A,B Make trouble as island in Canaries abused ordinands in custody, including nationalist personified (5,4;9)
12 A,B Vagrant scared a lot of priests, feigning elevated ecstasy in sanctuary – charge follows (10;10)
15 A,B Satirical Frenchman murdered brother in lift, almost garrotting rascal – number one son sues (8;8)
16 B,A Number in school hum lines, hot bits in December sing-song (6,6)
17 A,B Jack has new hopes to be holy man operating on the dean’s side, transformed demoniac wasting little time (6,6)
19 B,A Praises once involved lots rejoicing right inside Polish place dedicated to saint (6,6)
23 A,B Keen to help around five, you render carols maybe in streets in Gloucester (4,4)
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