Since the 1890s, members of Mansfield Old Meeting House Unitarian Chapel have distributed Hot Cross Buns in Mansfield on Good Friday following the wishes of Mary Mallatratt, whose Will left money for the distribution of buns on that day to the poor children of the town.

Last year this historic charitable event was disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic so the committee decided that this year they will make a slight change to the arrangement, but remain in keeping with the spirit of Mary Mallatratt’s legacy.

This Good Friday the Hot Cross Buns will be donated to a local foodbank and the chapel is also looking to partner with local supermarkets to add further buns to the donation.  The initial donation will be made to the Trussell Trust Foodbank in Mansfield, with any buns beyond their capacity for fresh goods going to other local foodbanks.

The chapel still plans to distribute Hot Cross Buns to the children later in the year for the Heritage Open Days, held on 17th to 19th September, under the topic ‘Edible England’.