The Great British Bake Off winner Jasmine Mitchell has presented a cake to the Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally at Lambeth Palace as a housewarming gift.
The fig, honey and almond cake was made with honey produced by bees in the palace garden, and figs reflecting the fig tree that was planted in the grounds of Lambeth Palace in 1556.
Jasmine, who won The Great British Bake Off in November, decorated the cake with olive branches to symbolise peace and healing, with the shape of a scallop shell piped on the side to reflect Archbishop Sarah’s love of walking and pilgrimage. Scallop shells are traditionally a symbol of many pilgrimage routes.
During the presentation, Archbishop Sarah and Jasmine, who is training to be a doctor, talked about their experiences working in the NHS and their shared Christian faith. Afterwards, the cake was donated to The Passage, a local charity that aims to end homelessness, and to staff in the paediatric intensive care unit at Evelina London Children’s Hospital.
Dame Sarah, who will be installed as archbishop at a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral in March said: "Jasmine has created a really thoughtful and inspired cake, that artfully weaves biblical imagery with references to Lambeth Palace and my Installation. I am so grateful to Jasmine for the time and creativity she has put into making this lovely cake. We are often characterised by tea and cake in the Church of England, and I think this might be some of the best I’ve had!"
Jasmine said, “It was such a joy to meet Archbishop Sarah today and to give this cake as a housewarming gift. I loved the process of designing and baking the cake for her. I’m praying that Archbishop Sarah would feel God with her as she begins her new role."