HOT CROSS BUNS

Why do we eat Hot Cross Buns ?

There is a long traditional at Easter of eating ‘hot cross buns’ on Good Friday. The pastry cross on top of the buns symbolises and reminds Christians of the cross that Jesus was killed on.

Our local tradition.

A selection of photographs over the years 1965 to 1980 showing the tradition of distributing Hot Cross Buns from the Old Meeting House. The enthusiasm for the Hot Cross Buns can be clearly seen by the children (and adults).

When and how did this local tradition start and does it still continue, or has it as so many other traditions now discontinued?

Where in Mansfield are the photographs taken in 1972 of the of the children running to collect their Hot Cross Buns?

Comments about this page

  • The distribution of hot cross buns by the Old Meeting House Unitarian Chapel, as part of the Mary Mallatratt Trust which started in 1896, still continues today and forty passers-by along Stockwell Gate enjoyed a tasty bite on Good Friday this year (2019). Do look on the Chapel’s website or Facebook for more details and watch the video of the morning’s activities.

    By David Brown (28/05/2019)
  • Wonderful photo’s! Does anyone know what the Street now known to us as Rooth St. was called before it took the name from the original leading down to the Meeting House?

    By Barbara Brown (26/03/2016)
  • A lovely tradition maintained by the Unitarian Chapel. Here’s  a gallery of images from the 2015 event.

    http://tinyurl.com/ndzq2cg

    By Si Barber (13/04/2015)
  • Yes, the tradition is maintained, and buns are still handed out each year on Good Friday morning in Walkden Street, as they were yesterday (29/03/2013).

    By Patrick Timperley (30/03/2013)
  • The tradition was in order to earn your bun you had to complete a circuit – out of the gates onto Stockwell Gate, right to Rosemary Street, along Rosemary Street and right into Rooth Street, through the Meeting House main gates and into the hall for your bun. If you wanted ‘seconds’ you had to complete another circuit.

    By John Clay (25/02/2013)
  • On this photo, Janet Ryder (holding the young child in the dark coat). To Janet’s right, the young boy looking at the other woman holding a child, is Ian Ryder (Janet’s son). To the right of Ian is Barry Kelly.

    By John Clay (25/02/2013)
  • On this photo, lady in the dark coat holding the child in the dark coat is Janet Ryder. I think the boy she is holding is Andrew Wytchell (not sure of spelling), Andrew’s mum and dad, Steve and Cath used to run the Old Meeting House youth club in the 70’s and 80’s. Their family has been associated with the church for several decades.

    By John Clay (25/02/2013)
  • What a treasure. I attended the Old Meeting House Sunday School for several years. I am in the middle of the photo with long hair, my face is partially obscured. My brother, Chris, is over my right shoulder (chubby face and scruffy hair). On the far right is the Reverend Derek Smith, who is still connected with the church today. Next to him, holding the baby, is Lesley Speck. To the right of the baby, wearing the glasses, is Jane Bacon. On the far left , wearing the knitted hat, is Lesley Ryder. To the left of Lesley is, I think, Claire Smith, who was the Rev Smith’s daughter. Many happy memories.

    By John Clay (24/02/2013)
  • On this photo. Tall girl with the glasses and hat is Jane Bacon. To her right (small girl) Beverley Speck. To Beverley’s left shoulder is Ian Ryder. In front of Ian is Andrew Speck (Beverley’s younger brother). All of whom went to the OMH Sunday School in the 70’s.

    By John Clay (24/02/2013)
  • In 1891 Mary Mallatratt left £100 in her will to be invested by the Old Meeting House trustees, to be spent on the distribution of buns annually on Good Friday, to poor children. Mary Mallatratt was the widow of George Mallatratt, once the landlord of the Blue Boar Inn on Stockwell Gate.

    By Angela Roche (26/03/2011)
  • The photographs in both 1972 and also 1967, show the grounds of the Old Meeting House. In the backround are Rooth street and Walkden street, and the top of the Lawn Mills can just be seen in the back ground.

    By Angela Roche (24/03/2011)
  • This is the grounds of The Old Meeting House. The gate way leads onto, what was known as Rooth street, which then lead onto Rosemary street.

    By Angela Roche (22/03/2011)

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