Crossword Genius

Building that's essential to see? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cathedral

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'building' is the definition.
(cathedral is a kind of building)

'that's essential to see?' is the wordplay.
'that' becomes 'cathedra' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'essential to' says to take the centre.
'see?' becomes 'Ely' (see is a place with a cathedral - e.g. Ely).
The centre of 'ely' is 'l'.
'cathedra'+'l'='CATHEDRAL'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cathedral that I've seen before include "dramatic murder location" , "place of religion" , "See building" , "St Paul's or St Patrick's" , "religious building" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app