Christian funerals
This guide will explain what typically happens at traditional Christian funeral services; including Church of England funeral services and Catholic funerals.
What is a Christian funeral?
Christian funerals are bespoke services, tailored to meet the needs of the Christian faith. Christians believe that when someone passes away, it is the end of their life on Earth, and they are subsequently judged by God.
Family and close friends gather at Christian funerals to grieve but also to celebrate the life of the deceased. What happens at a Christian funeral can differ depending on each Christian denomination. Generally, Christian funerals are held around a week after someone has passed away.
What happens at a Church of England funeral service?
A Church of England funeral service can be made as personal and unique as you wish. Christians often celebrate the life of the deceased but also take into account the circumstances of the death.
The Church of England funeral service can take place almost anywhere, including a church, cemetery or crematorium. A Church of England funeral service usually follows a general structure, with the order of Service including readings, a sermon, prayers and hymns.
Also, the Service may include a eulogy written and delivered by a family member or close friend. Special requests such as the deceased’s favourite music and funeral flowers are customary at Christian funerals.
What to take to a Church of England funeral?
If you’re wondering what to take to a Christian funeral, flowers, wreaths and cards are common to see both at Church of England funeral services and Catholic funerals. The funeral service often ends with a burial or cremation and are followed by a post-funeral reception, commonly known as a wake.
What happens at Catholic funerals?
A Catholic funeral service is led by one or more priests and follows an orderly ritual, including:
- Vigil
- Mass
- Rite of Committal
- Burial
Traditionally, the Catholic Church has preferred its members to choose burial. However, cremation is allowed. If a loved one is cremated, their ashes should not be scattered or kept in an urn at home. Instead, the ashes should be buried in a respectful manner.
Vigil
The Vigil allows family and friends to gather and celebrate the life of the deceased before the actual funeral Service. It may take place in the deceased’s home, church or your local funeral home, with prayers and songs offered during this time.
Funeral Mass
The Funeral Mass is usually held in the church where the deceased worshipped. It is celebrated by a priest and includes the Eucharistic Prayer and the giving of the Holy Communion.
What are Christian funeral rites?
The Rite of Committal is the Service performed at the gravesite or the cemetery chapel. Cultural rituals such as throwing dirt on the coffin and placing material possessions on the casket are accepted at Catholic funerals.
Christian funeral songs
Traditionally, Christians sing a selection of hymns during the funeral service. Usually chosen by the family, the hymns are sung at intervals between readings, and are often accompanied by a church organ or similar instrument.
Some favoured hymns for Christian funerals include Amazing Grace, The Lord is my Shepherd and Abide with Me. If you need some inspiration for Christian songs to sing at a funeral, your place of worship will also be able to suggest some suitable hymns to you.
Christian funeral prayers
There are many popular Christian funeral prayers to say at a service. These can include:
- The Lord’s Prayer
- Catholic Funeral Prayer
- Christ be with me
- Psalm of Comfort
- I Corinthians 15:51-57
Your loved one may have left a list of prayers to include in their funeral wishes. If not, it’s essential to speak with your close family to choose the prayers that are right for the Service.
Sources: ‘Church of England’ and ‘The Art of Dying Well’
OUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
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OUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BOTH CREMATION AND BURIAL
All administration and communication with you, “our family” taking all instructions and liaising with third parties to include Ministers/Celebrants, Cemeteries, Crematoriums, Doctors, Hospitals and HM Coroner. Safe handling of legal documents and forwarding to correct authorities. Twenty-four hour contact with us, your local funeral director. Care and preparation of your loved one, provision of on site refrigerated facilities (your loved one will remain with us until the day of the service.Bereavement support and guidance, before during and following the service.
£799.00
Removal of your loved one into our care within a fifty mile radius form Leicester, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Some of our competitors have different charges for when your loved one passes away for instance after 5.00pm, during the weekend and bank holidays, we see this as so wrong.
£200.00
Supply of black motor hearse, traditionally used to convey your loved one to final place of rest. (We do have a list of alternative hearses and if you don’t require a hearse, The hearse can proceed from a family home.
£200.00
Basic Coffin with lining and all fittings – foil paper wood finish
£150.00
Funeral arrangements handled by our team are very affordable
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DISBURSEMENTS
Disbursements are fees set by a third party– i.e. burial, crematorium, doctors and ministers fees, and are different for each funeral depending on requirements.
Crematorium fees typically (Monday –Friday)
Funeral arrangements handled by our team are very affordable
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(COST FOR A DIRECT CREMATION £1,150.00)
A low cost direct cremation is a no service at a crematorium, no attendance and no frills option, it really is just that. but carried out by a lady funeral director
We will arrange a meeting with the family which could be in person or over the telephone, complete all the relevant documentation and forward these on your behalf.
We will bring your loved one into our care and provide a suitable coffin, we will convey your loved one to the crematorium quite possibly in the early morning or late afternoon in a funeral-related vehicle which could be a hearse or an estate car.
The cremated remains we can collect and return these to you if at a local address
ADDITIONAL CHARGES