How can we help?
Arranging a Funeral
Planning a Funeral Service in church or crematorium
We commit ourselves to offering the very best pastoral care we can to all who are dying or grieving the loss of a loved one. 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 of someone at the end of their journey in this word and to commend them into God’s keeping.
Each funeral service is different, trying to reflect the personality of the person who has died, the circumstances of their death and the needs of their loved ones. One of our Clergy will listen closely to what a family wants and will advise and assist in choosing suitable readings, hymns and prayers and in ensuring that the life of the person who has died is celebrated and remembered appropriately. We take services in church, crematorium or cemetery.
We don’t think that our ministry stops at the conclusion of a funeral, so we promise to offer ongoing support for all who are bereaved. Sometimes this means years of sensitive care. Bereaved people are encouraged to seek the help of the ’STEPPING STONES’ group (which meets on first Friday in the month 2 – 4pm at St Mary’s Church Hall.) Contact Angela Hector (01275 871247). We also hold an annual Service of Light in the autumn.
Useful Details
Churches in our Benefice
St Mary’s, St Paul’s and St Peter and St Paul’s Churchyards are available for burials and burial of cremated remains. All Saints’ Churchyard is closed for burials but burials of cremated remains can still take place.
Headstones and Monuments
If a burial or burial of ashes has taken place in a churchyard in the benefice, you can arrange for a headstone or tablet to mark the grave. A monumental mason will provide you with all the necessary details, but a suitable natural unpolished stone should be chosen (not marble or black) and of an appropriate size in proportion to other stones present. Lettering should usually be in black or grey (not usually gold or silver). The funeral director will be able to recommend a monumental mason.
Please remember that following a burial, it may be up to nine months before a headstone can be erected although a small tablet can usually be laid where cremated remains are interred. Afterwards the church will try to take care of the grave but please help us by removing spent flowers etc. Plastic flowers are never permitted.
Monuments : these normally range from £49 to £150 depending on the type and size of the monument required.
Funeral fees 2024
A Service in Church or Crematorium - £228
A service at the Crematorium preceding or following a service in church - £34
Burial of Ashes in the churchyard - £192
Other expenses:
Organist - £75
Verger - £30
Heating (if required) - £75
Printing costs for orders of service
A4 paper (backed) - 30p a copy
A4 card (white or cream) - 40p a copy
A4 card with colour photo - 50p a copy
Administration cost for preparing orders of service -£25
Order of service can be written and printed from the Parish Office. For practical reasons we usually limit orders of service to 4 pages.
Funeral at All Saints
‘For 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 8.38-9