One of the unclued entries (two words) defines the others (two of which are hyphened), which are all real words. Collins, not Chambers, confirms 23D. Ignore one accent in the unclued entries and another elsewhere.

Across

1    Clergymen demolishing a church helping its loss of status (14)
9    See missing competitor getting ready for Gulf states? (4)
12    Vulgar display that may be flashing entertains women (4)
14    Hook, at sea, a noted murder victim (6)
16    Support one going to university with father’s backing (5)
17    Noble peers regularly dated artefacts (5)
20    Designer wanting introduction to peregrine falcon (7)
21    Perhaps miss the race somehow (7)
24    Avoid directness in unlikely title for Prince Philip’s memoir? (7)
25    Peer group ’as a fling, they say (5)
26    Work out what tipsy chap’s concealing (5)
28    Singularly odd tile is triangular (7)
37    It helps you go crack on the track? (5)
38    Sucker about to leave round our way (5)
39    Stupidly I moan about Liberal worker hoping for strike (6)
41    Transfer mechanism – arrange it in a new way (9, two words)
42    Green flag (4)

Down

1    Maiden embraced by rough trade in fantasy? (6)
2    A single day made of many years, that’s some logical paradox (5)
3    Not very old when one’s working (6)
4    An ace is normally this great flier (5)
5    Ruin cloudy effect on water surface (7)
6    Turning attaché case may reveal snake eyes (7, hyphened)
7    Make permanent diamonds, without using money (6, two words)
8    One who’s not in top gear, or bottom gear? (8)
18    Rolling with a spring in one’s step? (10, hyphened)
19    Result of my fear said to be cold comfort (8, two words)
22    Contents of play penned by playwright for old bird (7)
23    US caterpillar worn out going through unwanted mail (8)
29    Being late initially, hurried back to get caught in delays (7)
30    Officer enters Congress as head of hangers-on (6)
32    Garments only worn in nineteen forties ultimately (6)
33    Filthy place supports not having good manners (6)
35    Article stops before columns (5)
36    Great Britain is flat, cycling (5)

A first prize of £30 for the first correct solution opened on 18 July. There are two runners-up prizes of £20. (UK solvers can choose to receive the latest edition of the Chambers dictionary instead of cash — ring the word ‘dictionary’.) Entries to: Crossword 2267, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.

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