When somebody we love dies it is always a deeply poignant and emotional time.
Of all human events, death concerns us the most deeply. When death approaches, whether it be our own or that of somebody close to us, it immediately becomes our principal and overriding concern. When people die, their family and friends suffer loss, shock and grief. Grief is like a wound which requires time and care if it is to heal. Nevertheless, Gods love and the hope we share through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ continues through our loss and in our grieving. The services of the Church and the care we offer seek to strengthen the assurance of this.
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about funerals...
Is it possible for the clergy of the church to conduct a funeral away from the church? The clergy of the Church are available to prepare and lead funeral services either in a church or at another venue. Do you have to be an Anglican to have a funeral at the church? You do not have to be a member of this church or an attender to have a funeral conducted by the clergy, either at the church or elsewhere. What does the church want to do for you in a funeral? Our desire is to care for you as a family and to lead a service marked by dignity and compassion based on the hope we have in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What about after the funeral? Our care for you does not stop with the funeral and we offer pastoral care as you come to terms with the loss. Can civil funeral celebrants conduct a funeral in an Anglican Church? Civil funeral celebrants are not permitted to lead services in an Anglican Church, though the leadership of a funeral can be shared. We consider that the church is a place of Christian worship and all that happens there should reflect the ethos of the Anglican Church.