The Bishop of Exeter has shared both his baking skills and the Gospel, to mark his first Easter in the role.

In a video shared with congregants, Dr Mike Harrison pipes crosses onto the buns, whilst explaining their theological symbolism.

“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,” the Bishop says.

The iconic buns’ white cross represents the crucifixion, with the flavourings of nutmeg and cinnamon symbolising the spices used to embalm his body.

“The dried fruit reminds us of the fruit of Jesus’s passion… a new life that he offers us, sharing with him and the fruit of that life in love, joy and peace,”

Dr Harrison also explained that the yeast, which catalyses the dough rising, represents Christ rising again.

He told the Church Times: “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.”

“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,” he joked.