Bowing as a group around church (7)

I believe the answer is:

arching

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'bowing' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'a group around church' is the wordplay.
'group' becomes 'ring' ().
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'church' becomes 'ch' (common abbreviation).
'ring' enclosing 'ch' is 'rching'.
'a'+'rching'='ARCHING'

'as' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for arching that I've seen is " Bending".)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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