THE Bishop of Exeter, Dr Mike Harrison, has prepared for his first Easter in Devon by baking hot cross buns and explaining their Christian symbolism in a video.

The video shows the “keen baker” making the buns from scratch, and telling viewers why they are traditionally eaten on Good Friday.

“Apparently, the tradition goes back to a 14th-century monk from St Albans, who baked some buns and gave them away to the poor outside the monastery walls,” Dr Harrison says.

The white cross on the buns represents the death of Jesus on the cross; the mixed spice, cinnamon, and nutmeg represent the spices that were used to embalm his body; and the yeast, the rising agent, is a reminder that Jesus rose from the dead after three days, he continues.

“The dried fruit reminds us of the fruit of Jesus’s Passion, death, and resurrection, which is new life — a new life that he offers us, sharing with him and the fruit of that life in love, joy and peace,” Dr Harrison tells viewers.

Dr Harrison’s first attempt at baking hot cross buns did not turn out “entirely as planned”, he confessed. “I’m not entirely convinced that these look like shop-bought hot cross buns. They are, however, homemade, and I’m sure they taste as good as they smell.

“The experience of making and baking them while talking about the way the history, ingredients, and symbols related to the Easter story was really helpful in challenging me to think about how this story can be made accessible to a wide variety of people — whether those completely unfamiliar with the events of Easter or those who know the narrative very well.”

Dr Harrison was appointed Bishop of Exeter last year (News 7 June 2024). He will be preaching on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Day at Exeter Cathedral.