No-one really wants to think about their own death or the death of a loved-one. However, death is, sadly, a fact of life, and, if this is something that you are dealing with or planning for, we can help.
Anyone who lives in this parish, dies in this parish, or is on the electoral roll of this church has the right to a church funeral at St Mary’s. We also have flexibility in cases where someone has lived in Whitkirk for a long time but may have moved away towards the end of their life (for example, to a nursing home or to stay with family). Church funerals are not restricted to regular (or even irregular) churchgoers, and we do all we can to make what will inevitably be a difficult day go as smoothly as possible.
People are very different one from another, and church funerals reflect that individuality. There is no question of a church funeral being ‘one size fits all’. We can provide music from traditional church music with the organ and hymns to recorded music of your choice. A church funeral will include a Bible reading and prayers, but poems or other secular readings can also be included, and there will be plenty of time to speak about and reflect on the life of the deceased in an unhurried way.
Christians believe that death is not the end and that Jesus’s resurrection offers us all a promise, that we too will be raised to eternal life. At a difficult time, a church funeral can offer a much-needed message of hope.
Funerals elsewhere
Church of England funerals do not have to take place in church. Claire, our vicar, can lead a service at a crematorium, at a Funeral Director’s chapel of rest, or outside, either in our own churchyard, a council cemetery, or a designated green burial place.
Burials and interments of ashes
Our churchyard is now closed for new burials, although in some circumstances it may be possible for a loved-one to be buried in an existing plot. The churchyard remains open for the interment of ashes following a cremation. This can be organised at the same time as a funeral or at a later date. Our churchyard is exceptionally well looked-after and is a pleasant place to visit and to remember your loved-ones. For more information about burials of ashes, headstones and memorials, see our churchyard leaflet.
Pastoral care and memorial services
If you have a funeral service in church or organise an interment of ashes in the churchyard, you will receive an invitation to one of our memorial services. These happen twice a year, in the church, and offer an opportunity to remember your loved-ones alongside others in similar circumstances. These services are open to anyone who would like to attend, not only those whose loss is recent or who have had a church funeral. Claire will always meet those organising a funeral beforehand, but is also always available for follow-up care whenever that is needed.
Arranging a funeral or interment of ashes
The easiest way to arrange a funeral or interment of ashes is either to contact us directly or to ask your funeral director to contact us on your behalf.
More information
If you need more information you might want to look at the Church of England’s pages about funerals.