A funeral marks the close of a human life on earth. It is the opportunity for friends and family to express their grief, to give thanks for the life which has completed its journey through this world and to commend the person into God’s keeping. This may be done with only a few members of the family present or be an occasion of great solemnity with music, hymns and many people.

 

Arranging a funeral

 

The person who has died may have left a paragraph in their Will describing the sort of funeral arrangements they hoped for. Naturally, the family will want to keep to such arrangements as far as possible.  Everyone has the right to a funeral in their parish church, even if they have not been churchgoers. Enid Thompson (details above) should be contacted.  The funeral service can take place in church or in a crematorium chapel. The service may be said or have hymns, music, favourite prayers, readings and an address.

 

Burials and Cremations

 

The churchyard is still open for burials or for the interment of cremated remains. There is a special place set aside for burying ashes or they may be interred in an existing grave. Crematoria also have gardens of rest where ashes can be buried.

​

When the burial of ashes takes place, usually a few days after the funeral, a further very brief service can be held if the family so wishes and some suitable commemorative mark or record may be made.