1d Christian service for children held shortly before Christmas, in which each child receives a decorated fruit with a lighted candle in it C_ _I _T_N_ _E
1ac Guy who's stylish, not brave _ _ _ _ _E _
2d Believer in an animal cut up _ _ _ _U
3dpolice force closing a thicket _ _ _ _E
9ac Game stake minus win (about one penny) 4 letters
17ac stream ending at a wide mouth 3 letters 24ac soldiers without time for falling back 17d I confess-it's unfinished music 18dFoodstuffwhich commonly has a vitamin added