Crossword Genius

Salt symbolically received by Bill before church (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tabernacle

'church' is the definition.
(I know that tabernacle is a type of church)

'salt symbolically received by bill before' is the wordplay.
'salt symbolically' becomes 'nacl' (I've seen this in another clue).
'received by' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'bill' becomes 'tab' (a tab is a bill at a bar).
'before' becomes 'ere' (poetic term).
'tab'+'ere'='tabere'
'nacl' inserted into 'tabere' is 'TABERNACLE'.

(Other definitions for tabernacle that I've seen before include "Mormon meeting-place" , "Mormon place of worship" , "Tent for the Ark of the Covenant" , "A celebrant (anag) - place of worship" , "Portable tent" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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