Funerals are used to mark the end of a person’s life on earth, with family and friends coming together to express grief, give thanks for the life lived and to commend the person into God’s keeping. Every funeral is different – some are small quiet ceremonies, whilst others are large occasions in a packed church.
You can find more information about funerals on the Church of England’s website.
Church of England Funerals
You don’t need to be a regular churchgoer to request or have a Church of England funeral. Anyone can ask a Church of England minister to take a funeral for someone they knew and loved – the minister will carry out a service for anyone who lives in their parish.
Despite what some people think, a Church of England funeral doesn’t have to take place at a church ether. Church of England ministers are able to conduct funerals in four different venues:
- At a church, typically the church building the minister is based
- At a crematorium chapel
- At a municipal or private cemetery
- At a natural burial ground
Wherever the funeral takes place, the message at all Church of England funerals is one of hope. Although there will be sadness as a loved one has passed away, there is also a message of hope in life after death.
You can also be assured that the Church of England is available for you after a funeral takes place. Whether the funeral has happened recently or many years ago, your local church is there for you. You can find a local church via the A Church Near You website.
Ongoing Support
After someone has died, you can always find support from your local church, which can provide quiet and peace, as well as someone to speak to about the big questions around life and death. The vicar or other minister is there to listen to your thoughts and help you make sense of what has happened.
A church can also be a place to pray, perhaps light a candle, or request that others pray for you and your needs. Simply lighting a candle is an act of prayer, the chance to pause for a moment and hold your needs before God.
You’ll also find ongoing support as part of a church community – every Sunday, Christians gather together in local churches to give thanks to God, to pray, and to know God’s strength for the week ahead. Everyone is welcome, and you might find new friends as well as the peace and comfort of God’s presence.
Have Questions?
Death can be a difficult topic to discuss with others. Even knowing who to approach with the big questions about death, dying and funerals can be a challenge. But there are a growing number of spaces which bring people together to talk about such topics, through an initiative called GraveTalk, launched through the Church of England.
GraveTalk is a café space, organised by a local church, where people can discuss topics relating to death. The conversation is helped along by GraveTalk conversation cards, which are questions covering common queries and concerns.
GraveTalk helps to begin conversations about death and dying, but if you need further support, the following organisations may be useful:
- Bereavement UK
- Cruse
- Child Bereavement Charity
- Child Death Helpline
- Grief Encounter
- NHS
- Sands
- Winston’s Wish
It’s important to remember that the Christian faith holds the hope that death is not the end. You can contact your local church to discuss this in more detail, or go along to a service to find someone to speak to. The vicar at your local church will have a lot of experience talking about the big questions of life and death, and anything you ask or say will be in confidence.
