Funerals

A church will always be there to help you through one of life’s most difficult times.

​A Church of England-led funeral is available to everyone, giving support before, during and after the service, for as long as it’s needed.

At the heart of every funeral led by a Church of England minister is the good news of God’s love for every unique human being. Each service is designed to reflect that love alongside the story of a particular life.

What Should I Expect?

The minister will tell the story of God’s love, offering a message of Christian hope and comfort, drawing on timeless words that have helped generations of people. When the minister visits you, share your thoughts, and be ready to talk about the person you are remembering. You will be able to work together to create a service that is special, and that will work well on the day.

A Church of England funeral service, wherever it happens, offers a framework of love and hope which holds the personal stories of those whose lives we remember.

What Comes Next?

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:

1. Register the death. There is some helpful guidance on this on the government’s births, marriages, and deaths advice page.
2. 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.

The Funeral Director will talk to you about what kind of funeral you would like, they will ask about various details, including:

• Whether the funeral should be civil, humanist or religious. Remember you don’t have to be religious or a churchgoer to have a Church of England funeral – it is open to all.
• Whether there is a particular minister or celebrant you have in mind to take the funeral.

If you choose to have a Church of England funeral, someone from the church will visit you to listen to the story of the person you knew, and will go through all the details of the funeral service itself.