Crossword Genius

Dramatic space where those people hide religious leader (3,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

the abbey

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

'leader' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'dramatic space where those people hide religious' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'religious' could be 'abbe' (abbe is a kind of religious) and 'abbe' is present in the answer.
'those' could be 'they' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'they' is present in the leftover letters.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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