Crossword Genius

Special group request church to follow trusted leader (4,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

task force

'special group' is the definition.
(a group formed for a special task)

'request church to follow trusted leader' is the wordplay.
'request' becomes 'askfor' (synonyms).
'church' becomes 'CE' (abbreviation for Church of England).
'to follow' says to put letters next to each other.
'leader' says to take the initial letters.
The first letter of 'trusted' is 't'.
'askfor'+'ce'='askforce'
'askforce' put after 't' is 'TASK-FORCE'.

(Other definitions for task force that I've seen before include "Special work group" , "working group" , "Temporary group to do a job" , "Group with a mission" , "Group specially organised for particular assignment" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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