FUNERALS

A funeral is used to mark the end of a person's life here on earth. Family and friends come together to express grief, give thanks for the life lived and commend the person into God's keeping.  These can be a small, quiet ceremony or a large occasion in a packed church.

Everyone is entitled to a service (funeral) at their local parish church regardless of whether they attended church or not.  

If you need to organise a funeral, do get in touch with Revd Rachel to talk about the date, time and the service itself.

Help in planning the funeral
 

The minister, usually either our Priest Revd Rachel Wilson or our Reader Mrs Tina Clay, will be very happy to help you plan the funeral service including making suggestions for readings and hymns, if that would be helpful. The Church Organist can help you choose music for the service, and consider what might be appropriate.  

 
Cremation Funerals

Families who wish to have a cremation may decide to have the whole funeral at a crematorium. The service would take place in the chapel there and the coffin would remain there afterwards for the cremation.

The church minister can lead the whole service at the crematorium, or it’s possible to have part of the service at the crematorium and part of it in church. The church service can take place before or after the cremation service.  The minister can help you decide the best option for you and your family.  They can also be there for you after the funeral and can offer prayers when it is time to put the ashes in their final resting place.

Ashes can be buried in the church memorial garden.

Burial Funerals

Usually there is a service in the church first, and then the minister, the coffin and the mourners move to the cemetery for the Burial.  The minister and Funeral Director will help you organise this.

HOPE

The message at all Church of England funerals, wherever they happen, is one of hope. Although there is sadness because someone you know and love has died, in every Church of England funeral there will also be a message of hope in life after death.

MEMORIAL GARDEN

The church yard includes a small garden where ashes can be buried. Please contact Revd Rachel, if you would like to arrange this for the ashes of a loved one.

Memorial Service

 Each year in early November, we hold a Memorial Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving for those who have died, which you are welcome to attend. 

At this Service, we light candles and read out the names of those whom we are remembering.

If you would like us to remind you of the date and details of the next memorial service, do ask the Church Office, Revd Rachel Wilson or Tina Clay to organise this. We do try to ensure that family members from recent funerals are invited. Everyone is welcome.