Funerals

 
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WE ARE HERE FOR YOU

Arranging a Funeral can feel like a mammoth of a task especially in the midst of grief. Be assured we are here to support you in any way we can.

Please don't hesitate to contact us at any point during the process or after, if you have any questions, if there is anything you want to talk about, or if there is anything we can do to help you.

 
 

FIRST STEPS

To arrange a funeral in the church you can either find a funeral director who will work with all parties to find an appropriate time and date, or you can contact us directly and begin working out some of the details earlier in the process.

When you are ready to talk about the funeral details the vicar will arrange to meet with you along with anyone else from the family who would like to join the discussion. This will also give the vicar the opportunity to learn a bit about your departed loved one.

THE SERVICE

As a church, we are licensed to give Christian funerals and so there will always be certain elements contained in the service. The core parts of the service will include;

  • Welcome & Introduction 

  • Hymn*

  • Psalm, Bible reading, and the address

  • Intercessions

  • Hymn*

  • Commendation and farewell

  • Committal*

  • Blessing & Dismissal  

*Hymns are not a core part of the service but they will usually be included.

*Committal will be included before the blessing and dismissal if the whole service takes place in the crematorium. If the main service is done in the church with the committal following at the crematorium or the graveside then the blessing will be done in the church prior to the committal. 

There is also the possibility of including additional content as well. Additional content may include other readings, poems, a eulogy, or a reflective piece of music to be discussed with the Vicar.

If the committal is done separately at the crematorium then it may be possible to have additional hymns and other items there as well.

It is also worth thinking about any music you may want to be played while you enter or exit the church or crematorium (please note any prerecorded music will need to be agreed with the Vicar and organised between yourself and the Funeral Director.

BIBLE READINGS

Church funerals will have two readings. One will be a Psalm and the other from another part of the Holy Scripture.

Below are some options.

Psalms

  • Psalm 23

  • Psalm 27 

  • Psalm 90 

  • Psalm 121 

  • Psalm 130 

Other Bible Readings

  • John 6:35-40

  • John 11:17-27 

  • John 14:1-6 

  • Romans 8:31- End

  • 1 Corinthians 15 

  • 1 Corinthians 15:20-End

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-End

  • Revelation 21:1-7 

HYMNS

  • The Old Rugged Cross

  • Guide Me O Though Great Redeemer

  • The Lord's My Shepherd

  • Amazing Grace

  • Lord of All Hopefulness

  • How Great Thou Art

  • Abide With Me

  • Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace

  • Be Thou My Vision

  • Great Is Thy Faithfulness

  • Immortal Invisible God Only Wise

  • Love Divine

  • Rock Of Ages Cleft For Me

  • Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven

  • ​Morning Has Broken

EULOGY

Remember this is not an essential part of the service and many people choose not to have one, so don't feel any pressure to write one. This can be a helpful task in the grieving process but it can also be difficult to write. If you write one, don't try and say everything that the deceased has done throughout their life, as interesting as it is, it doesn't really say who they were. Talk instead about their character, what they were like as a spouse, parent, and friend. Speak of their quirks, and share some fond memories. 

The length of the Eulogy will depend on other additional elements included and whether we are at, or need to get to the crematorium. They can range from 300 to 900 words with 900 being the maximum length it should be regardless of other factors.