Funerals
When experiencing the death of a loved one, many people look to the Church for comfort and reassurance. The death of someone is always a difficult time, and grief is a natural response, often expressing itself in feelings such anger, disbelief, guilt, numbness and confusion.
Planning a funeral service at a time of mourning is not easy but we are here to help as much as we can. Your first point of contact will often be through a local funeral director and if you want a Christian funeral service then you will soon be put in contact with us.
Everyone has the right to a funeral in their parish church, even if they and their loved one have not been a churchgoer. We understand the reticence that some people feel over this but we are well used to this situation and are here to encourage and support the living who feel loss.
The Funeral Service
Christian funeral services usually take one of the following forms:
A service in church followed by the committal at the crematorium or a burial site.
A service held at the crematorium - This usually lasts for 25 minutes. It may be possible to arrange for a longer time slot and this should be discussed with your funeral director.
A memorial service, or thanksgiving, held after the funeral.
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St John's Churchyard
There are no facilities for burial of bodies of ashes in St John's Churchyard. Your Funeral Director will advise you on local cemeteries that are open for burials . There is an opportunity for the Internment of Ashes if the person who died lived in the parish (map showing parish can be found here) or was on the current church register known as the Electoral Roll
For those unable to be present at the Funeral
The Church of England has produced the attached service for those who at unable to be present at a funeral. The service may be adapted to suit particular circumstances. It may be led by a friend or family member or by a minister and is based on the Funeral Service itself.
This service also may bring comfort / be appropriate for those who have attended a humanist led funeral and feel something was missing.
After the Funeral
Each Autumn we hold a service "for the recently bereaved" at the church. A list of those whose funerals we have taken over the previous year is read out (and other names may be added on request) and there is the opportunity to light a candle in memory of a loved one. Their next-of-kin are automatically invited, but the service is open to anyone who wishes to come.
Pre-Planning a Funeral
Sometimes people like to plan funeral services in advance and if you would like to do that, we would encourage you. It can often provide reassurance and comfort to your family to know that together we are carrying out your wishes as well as we can.