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Religiously, it has even earlier early closing (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

priory

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'religiously it has even' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'earlier early closing' is the wordplay.
'earlier' becomes 'prior' (synonyms).
'closing' suggests the final letters (the letter which ends or closes the word).
The last letter of 'early' is 'y'.
'prior'+'y'='PRIORY'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for priory that I've seen before include "in earlier years" , "Small monastery or nunnery" , "Abbotless monastery" , "where all men are brothers?" , "Religious house of monks or nuns" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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