FUNERALS

Our Condolences

May our Lord bless and comfort you and your family during this time of grief.

Please accept our sympathies to you, your family, and friends. We would be happy to discuss holding the funeral service here with us. Please contact us to provide your details and we will assist you very shortly.

This is a vulnerable time that we are sensitive to when talking with you. We have guidelines as to what we are able to provide and achieve for the church service.

  • If you are making arrangements for your own funeral, so that the details can be kept in our safe or with your family and solicitors, please see the funeral planning booklet from our office or download here.

  • If you are making arrangements for the funeral of a loved one who has recently died, you are welcome to contact the Parish Office, but mostly this contact will be done through your Funeral Directors.

Funeral Planning

A Christian funeral celebrates our belief in eternal life. Jesus’ resurrection provides the assurance of our own resurrection. In this sense death is not the end but a new beginning. For this reason we use the funeral service set down in the prayer book.

Sadly, you may need to contact us regarding a funeral. In the first instance you would contact Fr Patrick to arrange a time. (Friday is the Priest’s day off). If that time suits the Funeral Directors, Fr Patrick will meet with you to discuss details of the service and any specific requests. An organist can be arranged to play before and after the service and to accompany hymns.

The funeral service provides the opportunity for people to express their grief and to extend sympathy to the bereaved, to honour the person who has died and to proclaim the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Various elements of the gathering need to be given careful thought and detailed planning. Our guidelines arise out of the experiences of a number of previous occasions at the Church and what we are able to provide. It may be possible or appropriate to give opportunities for other activities beyond this service in discussion with us. Many people will have their favourite hymns.

Here are some well-loved hymns:

  • The Lord’s My Shepherd

  • Abide with Me

  • For All the Saints

  • Nearer My God to Thee

  • Rock of Ages

  • How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds

  • In Christ Alone

  • My Hope is Built

Bible readings and prayers may be read by family and friends, and the minister. The giving of a tribute or eulogy has been traditional at funerals. From our experience, we also suggest consideration of how many people are giving tribute and the length of time for each. Sometimes we see some selected content being placed into the order of service as a record for people afterwards.

This is the time to declare the mind of God: in the midst of our sadness, to bring comfort and support; in the midst of loss and uncertainty, to declare the forgiveness of sins and the hope of resurrection life; and in the face of despair and doubt, to bring the gospel message.

“I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8.38-39


Christianity is a faith founded upon Jesus of Nazareth, whom God raised from the dead. Christians believe that all who die in Christ will be raised with him. For Christians, a funeral is therefore a time of hope, as well as a time of grief. If someone you love dies remember that the church is always available. It doesn’t matter if the person who died didn’t come to church or as people often say ‘wasn’t very religious.’ Those who mourn are welcome to come to church and bring the people they love here.

A funeral is an important landmark on the journey of grief for the family and friends of the person who has died. It is an opportunity to remember and give thanks to God for all the blessings of the person’s life. We pray for and support each other in grief, and lay to rest the person’s mortal body. Everyone is entitled to a burial service or to have their ashes buried by their local priest regardless of whether they attended church or not, or which church they attend.