We realise that for you the death of a loved one, and the arranging of their funeral is going to be so very important to you, and we want to assure you that we in the Diocese of Birmingham believe it to be of great importance too.

It is a wonderful privilege for us to be involved with your family at this very sensitive time. Your local parish priest is available to offer you as much help and support as you need. Please never hesitate to ask. Find your local parish priest here

Ordinarily most people contact the Funeral Director (Undertaker) at the death of a loved one, but please feel free to contact your local Anglican Parish. We will can come out to support you at the moment of death and when you are making the funeral arrangements we will be of as much service to you as we possibly can.

Many people feel that unless you are regular church goers then there will be no opportunity to bring your loved one into your local parish church. This is not true. A service at a local crematorium / cemetery chapel is restricted by them to a maximum time of 20 minutes. This is common to all the establishments in Birmingham and many people increasingly feel this provides insufficient time. By coming into church prior to the committal service there is a greater opportunity to commemorate your loved one’s life as there are no time restrictions, and for most churches there is no additional cost for coming into church. Our fully trained clergy and lay workers are always happy to discuss the content of the service with you in full and involve as many members of the family as you would wish as it is important to us all that the service adequately reflects the person we are commemorating.

More and more people make use of a wider variety of music that can be played through CD and tape players, most churches do have these facilities, or can arrange for them. It is normal practice for us to be in contact with you prior to the funeral and we are always happy to offer support after the service – whether or not you are affiliated to a church.

Hymns
So many people find the choice of hymns a difficult one. It is obviously important to find something that will both reflect your loved one, be recognised by the majority of people and easy to sing. Here are a few suggestions split into two sections.

More uplifting type hymns that help us celebrate the life of a loved one and some more traditional music which assist us in saying our last farewell.

All things bright and beautiful
Morning has broken
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound
Love divine all loves excelling
Lead us heavenly father lead us
Jerusalem (and did those feet in ancient times)
Thine be the glory risen conquering son
Praise my soul the kind of heaven
For all the saints who from their labours rest
Guide me O thy great redeemer
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy
Abide with me fast falls the evening tide
O Lord my God when I in awesome wonder (The Old Rugged Cross)
Rock of ages cleft for me
The day thou gavest Lord has ended
The Kind of Love my shepherd is
The Lord’s my shepherd I’ll not want (23 Psalm)
There is a green hill far away

Further information
Click here to find your local parish. If you have difficulties please do not hesitate to contact the Diocesan Office, telephone: 0121 426 0400

Or you are welcome to contact the Bishop’s Officers for Funerals:

The Revd Brian Castle
Tel: 0121 779 2739
E-mail: revbcastle@aol.com

The Revd Nigel Mason
Tel: 0121 558 1763
E-mail: n.mason@talktalk.net

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