Crossword Genius

Church speculation facing endless netherworld (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bethel

'church' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'speculation facing endless netherworld' is the wordplay.
'speculation' becomes 'bet' (bet is a kind of speculation).
'facing' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'endless' means to remove the last letter.
'netherworld' becomes 'hell' (synonyms).
'hell' with its last letter removed is 'hel'.
'bet'+'hel'='BETHEL'

(Other definitions for bethel that I've seen before include "Methodist or Baptist church; church for seamen" , "Chapel" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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