Emotional period with gospels etc in back streets (11)
I believe the answer is:
sentimental
'emotional' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'period with gospels etc in back streets' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'period' could be 'time' (time is a kind of period) and 'time' is found in the answer.
'gospels etc' could be 'nt' (New Testament) and 'nt' is found in the answer.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
(Other definitions for sentimental that I've seen before include "Mawkish" , "Soft-hearted; romantic" , "Evoking tender emotions" , "with emotional effect" , "Feeling much" .)