‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Romans 8:38-9
Everyone is entitled to a Church of England funeral: you do not have to have attended church. A funeral marks the close of a human life on earth. It is the opportunity for friends and family to express their grief, and to give thanks for the life which has now completed its journey in this world.
After the initial news of the death of someone you knew and loved, there are some important things that need to be done. These are two of the more immediate things:
- Register the death. There is some helpful guidance on this on the government’s births, marriages, and deaths advice page.
- Meet a Funeral Director. If you’re not yet sure which one to use, you can find one near to you on the National Association of Funeral Directors’ website, or on the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) website.
Funeral directors local to our four churches include:
Tony Barker and Sons http://www.tbarkersonsfuneraldirectors.co.uk/
G.E. Hartley https://www.gehartley.co.uk/
H.C. Townsend http://www.hctownsend.co.uk/
Useful links:
Organising a funeral – a handy guide to what is involved and what to expect
Making plans for your own funeral – planning ahead and making your wishes known
Further information about funerals and how the Church of England can serve you.
CHURCHYARDS and MEMORIALS
Church of England churchyards are an important part of the fabric of the communities they serve. As such, there are strict regulations surrounding memorial stones and engravings, and what additional items may be left at a graveside. Please see the Diocese of York’s current regulations (below) for guidance.
Churchyard memorial regulations https://dioceseofyork.org.uk/uploads/attachment/4368/churchyard-memorial-regulations-2018-amended-aug-2019.pdf
Guidance notes for burials
https://dioceseofyork.org.uk/uploads/attachment/3063/burials.pdf