Hot Cross Buns at the Old Meeting House

1 Earliest Photo

The Custom of distributing Hot Cross Buns on Good Friday at the Old Meeting House began in 1894 when Mary Mallatrat bequeathed in her will £100 to be invested, and the interest accrued annually to be spent on the purchase of buns for children of Mansfield poor.

The custom has continued uninterrupted since 1894 apart from the war years and more recently the Covid Pandemic.

This Year in 2023 the hot cross buns  will be distributed as usual, but with a little difference brought on by the pandemic,  the cost of living crisis and changes in our lives. During the pandemic the buns were donated to the Foodbank and it has been decided to do so again this year- the larger part of the buns will go there – it is thought this is very much in accord with the benefactor`s wishes and will reach those families and those children who most need it . On the other hand so as to keep the tradition alive, on Good Friday at 10 am there will be a distribution of buns at the traditional location in front of the Old Parsonage,  our  entrance off Stockwell Gate.

Below is a collection of photographs taken over the years. More can be seen on the pages ‘Hot Cross Buns Distribition’ & ‘Hot Cross Buns’ on this web site.