Those at your local church will always be there to help you through one of life’s most difficult times.
A Church of England funeral is available to everyone, giving support before, during and after the service, for as long as it’s needed.
Everyone has the right to a funeral in their parish church, whether they go to church or not. Our ministers will work with the bereaved and their families to make sure the funeral is a fitting tribute to the unique life of the person you knew and loved.
First steps
There is so much to think about when someone has died. There are formalities to complete, people need to be told, and a funeral to organise. Find out here some of the first things that need to happen and discover practical things you can do to make a start.
Arranging a funeral
For guidance on arranging a church-led funeral, visit these web pages, or talk to the vicar of your church, which will be pleased to help.
If you do not know who your vicar is, try searcing on achurchnearyou.com, or ask your Funeral Director who will have local contacts to hand.
A funeral service in the Church of England, whether in a parish church or crematorium chapel, may be very short and quiet with only a few members of family and friends present, or it may be an occasion of great solemnity with music, hymns and a full church.
Whatever the pattern of service, the words and actions all speak of a loving God, and the preciousness to him of every human being.