Crossword Genius

Did prayerful Paul leave convert to bear a cross? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ferry

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

'convert to bear a cross?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'did prayerful paul leave' is the wordplay.
'did' is an anagram indicator (I've seen 'doing' mean this (doing can mean solving or working out)).
'leave' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'prayerful' with 'paul' taken out is 'ryerf'.
'ryerf' is an anagram of 'FERRY'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ferry that I've seen before include "Ship for crossings" , "Boat across e.g. English Channel" , "Boat for transferring people across short stretches of water" , "Regular passenger boat" , "Boat that plies from shore to shore" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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