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Friend admits writing to church - what would you expect from a Man of Letters? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

parcel

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'would you expect from a man of letters?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'friend admits writing to church' is the wordplay.
'friend' becomes 'pal' (pal can mean a friend).
'admits' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'writing' becomes 'r' (one of the traditional three R's of education).
'to church' becomes 'CE' (abbreviation for Church of England).
'r'+'ce'='rce'
'pal' going around 'rce' is 'PARCEL'.

'what' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for parcel that I've seen before include "Paper-wrapped package" , "Pack" , "Wrapped missive" , "'Bundle, package (6)'" , "One wrapped" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times (Crosaire) and the Irish Times.
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