Go by the Spanish church recess (6)
I believe the answer is:
elapse
'go by' is the definition.
('elapse' can be a synonym of 'go by')
'the spanish church recess' is the wordplay.
'the spanish' becomes 'el'.
'church recess' becomes 'apse' (I've seen this before).
'el'+'apse'='ELAPSE'
(Other definitions for elapse that I've seen before include "Go past" , "Pass or expire - please" , "'Pass by, as time (6)'" , "pass in silence" , "Please (anag) -- pass away" .)