Funeral Guidance for St Mary Magdalene Church, Ditcheat
People who live in our parish are very welcome to use the church for a funeral, whether or not they are regular worshippers. Arrangements are normally made through the undertaker, who is chosen by the family. The undertaker will then contact our funerals administrator or officiating priest, who will then liaise with the Ditcheat church wardens.
Reservations
Advance reservations for specific grave or ashes spaces (single or double) may be made in accordance with the process required by the Diocese of Bath and Wells. This is a fairly lengthy process so please contact the church wardens for further information.
Following the Death
When someone has died, (subject to coronavirus restrictions) our officiating priest will visit you at home if you live here in the parish (or speak with you on the telephone if you are not local), to talk over with you what you would like to be included in the funeral, including the choice of hymns and readings. The priest will later wish to review your draft Order of Service (normally sent via email by the undertaker).
Funerals in Ditcheat Church may be followed either by burial or cremation. Arrangements for burials in the Churchyard are always made through the undertaker who will liaise with the funerals administrator. The undertaker will also arrange the cremation following a funeral.
Interment of ashes, following cremation, is arranged with the parish by the undertaker on behalf of the family.
Funerals at Local Crematorium
Our officiating priest will also conduct the funerals of people living in the parish at the local crematorium if that is the family’s wish.
(The Mendip crematorium, on the Old Wells Road near Shepton Mallet, is the nearest).
Congregation
It would help us enormously to know roughly how many will be attending the funeral (again subject to coronavirus restrictions) and, particularly, how many there will be in the funeral party. This is so that we can reserve the front pews for the family and other members of the funeral party.
Music
The undertakers will relay any request for a pianist or organist to our funeral administrator who will then contact a suitable musician.
If you wish to use recordings of specific music, you may bring your own:
- CD player which can be plugged in at the front of the church or
- smart phone and speakers, or
- laptop which can be connected to our sound system.
Any recorded music should be suitable for a church service.
Please also note that normal practice is not to play music (except non vocal music played quietly) as the coffin enters the church. Rather, the officiating priest will at this point recite the appropriate words from the Bible as part of the service.
Notices
We would be happy to prepare and display notices about the funeral in the form you would like. They can be displayed at any of the church noticeboards in the benefice. We normally display them for the week preceding the funeral.
Flowers
We do not, as a matter of course, provide flowers in church although there will always be an altar arrangement (except during Lent or Advent). You are welcome to supply your own arrangements.
Readings and Tributes
Family or friends are welcome to speak at the funeral. This should be agreed with the officiating priest as part of the planning. We will need to know in advance whether they can ascend the steps to read from the pulpit and we do recommend the use of our microphone.
Collections
We will need to know from you or the Funeral Directors whether you are having a collection for a specific cause or whether it will be for the benefit of the church.
Following the Funeral
Prayers are said in church for a few weeks after the person has died. There is a Book of Remembrance held in the church in which you may record the names of those who have been buried or had ashes interred in the churchyard.
Please contact the church wardens for any information or advice:
Lynne Hughes 01749 860654
Jessica Leach 01749 860205
The Church of England has a useful resource about funerals which can be found at https://www.churchofengland.org/life-events/funerals
Funeral Guidance for St Mary Magdalene Church, Ditcheat
People who live in our parish are very welcome to use the church for a funeral, whether or not they are regular worshippers. Arrangements are normally made through the undertaker, who is chosen by the family. The undertaker will then contact our funerals administrator or officiating priest, who will then liaise with the Ditcheat church wardens.
Reservations
Advance reservations for specific grave or ashes spaces (single or double) may be made in accordance with the process required by the Diocese of Bath and Wells. This is a fairly lengthy process so please contact the church wardens for further information.
Following the Death
When someone has died, (subject to coronavirus restrictions) our officiating priest will visit you at home if you live here in the parish (or speak with you on the telephone if you are not local), to talk over with you what you would like to be included in the funeral, including the choice of hymns and readings. The priest will later wish to review your draft Order of Service (normally sent via email by the undertaker).
Funerals in Ditcheat Church may be followed either by burial or cremation. Arrangements for burials in the Churchyard are always made through the undertaker who will liaise with the funerals administrator. The undertaker will also arrange the cremation following a funeral.
Interment of ashes, following cremation, is arranged with the parish by the undertaker on behalf of the family.
Funerals at Local Crematorium
Our officiating priest will also conduct the funerals of people living in the parish at the local crematorium if that is the family’s wish.
(The Mendip crematorium, on the Old Wells Road near Shepton Mallet, is the nearest).
Congregation
It would help us enormously to know roughly how many will be attending the funeral (again subject to coronavirus restrictions) and, particularly, how many there will be in the funeral party. This is so that we can reserve the front pews for the family and other members of the funeral party.
Music
The undertakers will relay any request for a pianist or organist to our funeral administrator who will then contact a suitable musician.
If you wish to use recordings of specific music, you may bring your own:
- CD player which can be plugged in at the front of the church or
- smart phone and speakers, or
- laptop which can be connected to our sound system.
Any recorded music should be suitable for a church service.
Please also note that normal practice is not to play music (except non vocal music played quietly) as the coffin enters the church. Rather, the officiating priest will at this point recite the appropriate words from the Bible as part of the service.
Notices
We would be happy to prepare and display notices about the funeral in the form you would like. They can be displayed at any of the church noticeboards in the benefice. We normally display them for the week preceding the funeral.
Flowers
We do not, as a matter of course, provide flowers in church although there will always be an altar arrangement (except during Lent or Advent). You are welcome to supply your own arrangements.
Readings and Tributes
Family or friends are welcome to speak at the funeral. This should be agreed with the officiating priest as part of the planning. We will need to know in advance whether they can ascend the steps to read from the pulpit and we do recommend the use of our microphone.
Collections
We will need to know from you or the Funeral Directors whether you are having a collection for a specific cause or whether it will be for the benefit of the church.
Following the Funeral
Prayers are said in church for a few weeks after the person has died. There is a Book of Remembrance held in the church in which you may record the names of those who have been buried or had ashes interred in the churchyard.
Please contact the church wardens for any information or advice:
Lynne Hughes 01749 860654
Jessica Leach 01749 860205
The Church of England has a useful resource about funerals which can be found at https://www.churchofengland.org/life-events/funerals
