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 now completed its journey in this world and to commend the person into God's keeping.
The funeral service of the Church of England can be very short and quiet with only a few members of the family present or an occasion of great solemnity with music, hymns and a packed church. Whatever the pattern of service, the words and actions all speak of a loving God and the preciousness to Him of every human being.
The person who has died may have left directions in the Will describing the sort of funeral arrangements he or she hoped for. Naturally, the family will want to keep to such arrangements as far as possible. Every person has the right to a funeral in his or her parish church, even if the deceased or the family have not been churchgoers.
At St. Mary’s Church, the chief mourners receive a pre-funeral visit to arrange the service and tribute. Further, a leaflet detailing the stages of grief and the Christian view of death is left for the chief mourners. If there is a need after the service, the names of any mourners seeking pastoral care are passed to our Pastoral Team. All chief mourners are invited to our Memorial services.
For more information or to arrange a discussion, please contact the Rector - see "contact us" page.