CHRISTIAN FUNERALS
The Funeral Service
It is natural that when someone dies, the family or friends of that persons will wish to give them the best funeral service that is available to them. For some this may not involve a religious service of any kind but for many, perhaps most people, this is still the correct way to say our farewells.
The parish church is in many cases the natural place for a funeral service for those who have lived in the parish or attended church here. The ministry of the parish church is available to everyone.
Burial or Cremation
Saint Michael's churchyard was enlarged twice in the 19th century and doubled its size again in the 20th century making it one of the largest churchyards in Essex, somee say the second largest in the county. It has space for many more graves, so no one should feel that they cannot ask for burial in the churchyard. Burial is the traditional Christian way of laying our dead to rest, in the 'sure and certain hope of the resurrection'.
In the 20th century burial began to give way to cremation for a number of reasons. It was considered by some people to be somehow more friendly to the environment than burial with available burial space rapidly diminishing.
These days burial is becoming more popular again, as it is viewed as more ecologically sound. New cemeteries are sprouting up in forestry areas and on various green sites. This can seem very attractive but it is usually at quite a distance from home and can be much more expensive than the churchyard which is, of course, just as ecologically sound. Our churchyard has enough available space to continue burials at the present rate for many years to come and even with recent price rises announced by the C.ofE., burial in the churchyard is still much less expensive than in most public cemeteries.
Arranging a Funeral
To arrange a funeral at Saint Michael's or to have the services of a Church of England minister at the crematorium, the best first step is to contact the Parish Priest who will visit and be able to advise. For many the usual first step is to contact a local Funeral Director, who will then deal with all the arrangements on your behalf, including liaison with the church, crematorium or cemetery. The Funeral Service in Church may be followed by interment (burial) or cremation.
We are very happy to be asked to take funeral services at the crematorium whether or not the deceased or their family ever attended church at St Michael's.
Some funeral directors, perhaps thinking they are being helpful, may offer a minister of their own choosing, very often with no connection to the village or parish, perhaps implying that the parish priest is too busy to take the funerals of his parishioners. But this is actually part of the job of the Church of England parish priest, not that of a minister of the undertaker's preference.
Our Priest has a responsibility for all the souls in his parish, whether or not they have ever worshipped at Saint Michael's and he is available to everyone.
Those who belong to other faiths or denominations will probably want to make their own arrangements. Nevertheless, the Vicar / Parish Priest is available for everyone of any faith or none. He is, however, only able to use a Christian form of service.
The funeral service, these days, often has greater input from family members or friends who might be called upon to speak about the deceased person. However, not everyone feels able to do this and the parish priest is always willing to help out by reading tributes contributed by family or friends.
It is natural that when someone dies, the family or friends of that persons will wish to give them the best funeral service that is available to them. For some this may not involve a religious service of any kind but for many, perhaps most people, this is still the correct way to say our farewells.
The parish church is in many cases the natural place for a funeral service for those who have lived in the parish or attended church here. The ministry of the parish church is available to everyone.
Burial or Cremation
Saint Michael's churchyard was enlarged twice in the 19th century and doubled its size again in the 20th century making it one of the largest churchyards in Essex, somee say the second largest in the county. It has space for many more graves, so no one should feel that they cannot ask for burial in the churchyard. Burial is the traditional Christian way of laying our dead to rest, in the 'sure and certain hope of the resurrection'.
In the 20th century burial began to give way to cremation for a number of reasons. It was considered by some people to be somehow more friendly to the environment than burial with available burial space rapidly diminishing.
These days burial is becoming more popular again, as it is viewed as more ecologically sound. New cemeteries are sprouting up in forestry areas and on various green sites. This can seem very attractive but it is usually at quite a distance from home and can be much more expensive than the churchyard which is, of course, just as ecologically sound. Our churchyard has enough available space to continue burials at the present rate for many years to come and even with recent price rises announced by the C.ofE., burial in the churchyard is still much less expensive than in most public cemeteries.
Arranging a Funeral
To arrange a funeral at Saint Michael's or to have the services of a Church of England minister at the crematorium, the best first step is to contact the Parish Priest who will visit and be able to advise. For many the usual first step is to contact a local Funeral Director, who will then deal with all the arrangements on your behalf, including liaison with the church, crematorium or cemetery. The Funeral Service in Church may be followed by interment (burial) or cremation.
We are very happy to be asked to take funeral services at the crematorium whether or not the deceased or their family ever attended church at St Michael's.
Some funeral directors, perhaps thinking they are being helpful, may offer a minister of their own choosing, very often with no connection to the village or parish, perhaps implying that the parish priest is too busy to take the funerals of his parishioners. But this is actually part of the job of the Church of England parish priest, not that of a minister of the undertaker's preference.
Our Priest has a responsibility for all the souls in his parish, whether or not they have ever worshipped at Saint Michael's and he is available to everyone.
Those who belong to other faiths or denominations will probably want to make their own arrangements. Nevertheless, the Vicar / Parish Priest is available for everyone of any faith or none. He is, however, only able to use a Christian form of service.
The funeral service, these days, often has greater input from family members or friends who might be called upon to speak about the deceased person. However, not everyone feels able to do this and the parish priest is always willing to help out by reading tributes contributed by family or friends.
