Which funeral service is right for you?

Funerals can be religious or secular. Whether you opt for a Christian or other faith service, a Humanist or Secular funeral, can depend on your wishes, or those of the deceased.

You can choose a simple or ornate service, private or open, or you can choose to have a memorial or service of thanksgiving at a later date.

If you know the type of service you want but do not know anyone to officiate, we can introduce someone suitable. Theoretically, anyone can take a funeral service, but that can limit the venues available.

Whatever you choose, we will work with you to ensure it is a fitting tribute to you or your loved one.

These funerals are for people of a religious faith. At Welham Jones, we have experience of arranging funerals for all the major faiths: Christian, Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh, Muslim and Buddhist.

Church of England funerals are the most common religious funerals in the UK, so our advice below is tailored for these; if you would like to discuss a funeral of a different faith or different Christian denomination, please talk to our expert funeral arrangers.

The practicalities of Church of England services: 

• Your religious officiant will determine a framework of service, with some choice as to the length.
• Venues for Church of England funerals include churches, places of worship, crematoria chapels, cemetery chapels, gravesides.
• As the service is one of remembrance, close family input is generally required and that of a religious leader who knew the deceased.

What the service may involve:

• A choice of music playing at the beginning of the service, whilst family and friends take their seats or gather.
• A welcome by the religious officiant on behalf of the family/head of family to all present.
• A religious service including hymns or readings.
• A eulogy, which can be read by the family, or the officiant, prepared by the family or intertwined with personal input from family members and the officiant. The eulogy will consist of remembrances of events, places visited and times shared.
• A chosen piece of music playing during the reading out of family letters and/or poems, or the showing of photographs.
• An opportunity for private prayer or the reading of a chosen prayer for mourners who are religious.
• The words of committal to close the service. This may be accompanied by music and/or a prayer as the catafalque curtains are drawn or the coffin is lowered into the grave.
• Another favourite piece of music playing whilst family and friends leave the chapel, move to a reception or disperse.

These funerals are an increasingly popular alternative for those who were not religious, and are often referred to as person-centred funerals.

The practicalities of person-centred funerals:

• An officiant, often called a celebrant, will carry out the service and they can help define a framework on which the service takes place.
• Venues for secular funerals include crematoria chapels, cemetery chapels, village halls, gravesides and woodland burial sites, but not churches or places of worship.
• As a secular service is one of remembrance and celebration, greater family input is generally required, including that of children where appropriate.

What the service may involve:

• A favourite piece of music playing at the beginning of the service, whilst family and friends take their seats or gather.
• A welcome by the officiant on behalf of the family/head of family to all present.
• A eulogy, which can be read by the family or by the officiant, prepared by the family or intertwined with personal input from family members and the officiant. The eulogy will consist of remembrances of events, places visited and times shared.
• A chosen piece of music playing during the reading out of family letters and/or poems, or the showing of photographs.
• An opportunity for private prayer or the reading of a chosen prayer, for guests who are religious.
• A form of committal to close the service. This may be accompanied by music and/or a prayer as the catafalque curtains are drawn or the coffin is lowered into the grave.
• Another favourite piece of music playing whilst family and friends leave the chapel, move to a reception or disperse.

If you have an interest in protecting the environment and reducing your carbon footprint, then you may prefer a greener funeral or natural burial over traditional methods.

What is a greener funeral?

A greener funeral aims to reduce the impact that managing and delivering a funeral, burial or cremation has on the environment. People’s changing attitudes towards sustainability mean that the funeral industry is adopting more eco-friendly methods and products to meet changing demand. Greener funerals can also be considerably cheaper and more creative than a traditional funeral, which makes them increasingly attractive.

How can a funeral be greener?

There are several elements to a traditional funeral that can be changed to make it greener, such as:

• Selecting a locally sourced biodegradable casket or urn
• Using formaldehyde-free products which are considered less harmful when embalming – or not use embalming chemicals at all
• Opting for special types of burial or alternatives to cremation.
• The use of eco-friendly products, such as biodegradable clothing or a shroud, recycled paper products, locally grown organic flowers or food
• Lowering emissions by carpooling

The location of a burial might also be different, for example you could choose a special woodland area with the absence of a headstone, helping to minimise your loved one’s lasting imprint on the environment.