40 years of baking a Christmas tradition

For three days last week, a Christmas tradition took place nestled among the colorful autumn trees in the heart of Gaspee. 

In the basement of Asbury United Methodist Church, the “church ladies,” clad in hairnets, were busy baking bread. Led by Tina Bishop, 83, the “bread guru” who used her father’s Swedish recipe, the women carefully measured the donated ingredients; 160 pounds of flour and 30 pounds of sugar poured into the buckets of the bread mixers. They used Tina’s tip to shake the egg before they cracked it, ensuring the yolk would separate perfectly from the egg white. This tradition included the use of antique bread mixers. With dough hooks locked into place, the ladies began stirring with enthusiasm, giving themselves a good physical workout. With a circular arm movement and a hip shimmy, the mixing took on the rhythmical movement of a dance, with the ladies chatting and laughing while Tina energetically coached them along. After the dough had been kneaded, it was placed in a warm room off the kitchen to rise while the kitchen was cleaned for the next step of the process. That included the careful division and weighing of the risen dough into portions about the size of softballs. The crew then went to work cutting the globs of dough into three equal portions that were rolled into stands and braided to create each round loaf.

Tina has been married to her high school sweetheart, Carl Bishop, for 60 years. They raised their family of three children, Carl and Eric Bishop and Lynne Ferreira, in Warwick Neck but retired to her childhood community of Pawtuxet Village. She loves to walk everywhere, and continues to enjoy the company of her extended family, including 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A wistful smile came over her face as she recounted working alongside her father when she was a child. The memory of an activity done together, the fragrant aroma that hung in the air and that first taste of a fresh loaf brings back warm, loving memories for Tina, which she now fosters in her own daughter and granddaughter. Forty years ago, she shared her recipes and her skills with the women at Asbury Methodist Church. 

“Every fall, Tina, aka Grandmother, begins ‘kneading’ the ladies and the occasional gentleman into action,” said Janet Jones, one of the bread makers. 

“In the earlier days,” Tina said, “We would bring our children along, and they would sit on the counter to help mix and bake themselves their own little loaves of bread.” 

The women of the church are grateful that Tina has shared this memory so vividly with them so they can be a part of such a meaningful tradition that also benefits the good works done by their church.

The next step in the process is the baking. Tina expertly rotated the loaves into large ovens to bake. Aromatic and beautifully golden Swedish cardamom, and tea rings emerged to a roomful of cheers and quite a few “tasters.” The loaves were then placed in a chillier room to cool down, and then stored in freezers courtesy of Lakewood Ice Cream. 

All in all, 253 loaves were baked during the three-day marathon. Another 80 apricot ladders are scheduled to be baked this Friday, the day before the bazaar. If prior years are an indication, all the breads will be gone by 11 a.m. Saturday.

This is a bittersweet year for the women. After a baking reign of 40 years, this is the year Tina Bishop will hang up her apron and retire, safe in the knowledge that the tradition will carry on for future generations. Her years of work are appreciated and she will be missed. After this upcoming weekend, the only way to get a Tina Bishop loaf of bread will be to get on her Christmas gift list.

The Christmas Bazaar for the Asbury United Methodist Church, 143 Mary Ann Brown Drive in Warwick, will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.