We know how difficult it can be to lose someone you love, and we are here to help you at such a difficult time. We know too that the funeral service is such an important and meaningful opportunity for family and friends to gather in the church or crematorium to share their grief, to cherish memories together, to give thanks for all that was good in their loved one’s life, and to entrust them into the safe and loving arms of Almighty God, our heavenly Father.

Every funeral is different, and every person is special. Together with the Funeral Director, we are here to help you think through and plan an appropriate and fitting funeral, in tribute to your loved one.
If you'd like to donate to our churches, in memory of a loved one, please make a donation through your online banking to Golden Cap Team Fund  Lloyds Bank  -  Sort Code:  30-90-37   Account:  01032712.   Thank you so much!

Get in touch

Team Office: Margaret Trafford
Phone:  07485 770498
Email: [email protected]

Funerals - Frequently Asked Questions 

What do I need to do to arrange a church funeral?
The first thing to do is to contact a trusted Funeral Director who will make the arrangements for you. The Funeral Director will contact the Minister of the church to discuss suitable days and times for the funeral and will also administer the associated financial and legal matters involved in arranging a funeral. When a date and time has been agreed, the Minister will contact you to arrange a time to meet to discuss and plan the funeral service for your loved one.

How much does it cost to have a funeral in a church?
The Funeral Director will be able to advise you on costs. There are Parochial Fees to pay and there could be other costs too depending on your requirements, such as a fee for an organist.

What happens at a funeral service in church or at a crematorium?
The funeral service for your loved one can be tailored to suit your needs and preferences, and can of course accommodate your loved one’s wishes if they left instructions before they died. It is usual to include some words of tribute to your loved one (also known as a ‘eulogy’), a reading from the Bible, an Address from the Minister about the Christian hope of resurrection, and some prayers. It is also possible to sing hymns, listen to favourite pieces of music, have poems and other readings too – whatever seems appropriate for the special and unique person that your loved one was. It is also worth remembering that funeral services at crematoria must not exceed a certain length of time, usually around 30 minutes.
Do I have to be a regular churchgoer to be able to have a church funeral for my loved one?
No you don’t. The parish church is the sacred space of the parish for everyone and we welcome funeral services for anyone in the parish, regardless of whether they have been regular churchgoers or not.

Who gives the eulogy at the funeral?
It’s up to you. Sometimes a member of the family might like to say some words about the deceased; sometimes the family might prepare something for the minister to read out; and sometimes the family will prefer it if the minister prepares the eulogy, in which case the minister will gather information and anecdotes about your loved one when they meet with you.

Can my loved one be buried in the churchyard?
If the deceased lived in the parish at the time of death, and the churchyard is open for new burials, then there is an automatic right for your loved one to be buried in the churchyard if you so wish. If the churchyard is ‘closed’, it might still be possible for ashes to be interred or for your loved one to be interred in the existing grave of a close relative. This should be discussed with the Minister.

What if my loved one didn’t live in the parish where I want them to be buried?
If your loved one didn’t live in the parish when they died, it might still be possible for them to be buried in the churchyard of the parish church if there is a special connection to a particular church; it will be at the discretion of the Incumbent Vicar of the parish in consultation with the local Parochial Church Council and will depend on things like the strength of connection and the available space left on the churchyard.