Funerals

We believe

An extract from our Diocesan Webbsite

“Death is the only guaranteed certainty about life. It is something that can happen when you are young or old; it can be expected or sudden; it can be a tragedy or a release. Nobody knows for certain what happens when you die, but Christians believe that God's love and power extend over all creation. Every life, including our own, is precious to God. Christians have always believed that there is hope in death as in life, and that there is new life in Christ over death. Even those who share such faith find that there is a real sense of loss at the death of a loved one. We will each have had our own experiences of their life and death, with different memories and different feelings of love, grief and respect. The funeral service is an occasion to express our faith and our feelings as we say farewell, to acknowledge our loss and our sorrow, and to reflect on our own mortality. The church offers funeral services as a way of providing support and consolation to those who mourn.

Arranging a funeral for someone we love is one of the most difficult experiences we have to face in life.”

We hope that the information here, about our Church and Funerals, will be helpful

Can I have a funeral in St Benedict’s ?

Anyone is entitles to a funeral Service at St Benedict’s provided that they live, have died,  in the parish or are on our Church electoral roll. Others who have a close connection with our church or village may be able to have their funeral at St Benedict’s at the discretion of the Rector and Church Wardens.

Can  one of our Parish Ministers lead a Funeral Service at the Crematorium ?

The simple answer is yes. It is only in very exception circumstances that one of our Team of Ministers is not available to lead a funeral service at the Crematorium.
If you decide not to have a church service, but to have the funeral service just at the Crematorium please remember that the maximum length of service is 20 minutes unless you make special arrangements at the time of booking the Fuenral.

Burial in our Churchyard.

Sadly our churchyard at St Benedict’s is closed.

This means that there is no space for new graves. However it is possible to for spouses, and sometimes other family members, to be buried in an existing grave if the grave was dug for more than one at the time of the first burial.

It is also possible to have cremated remains buried in an existing family grave where there is space and the family agrees and no further full burials are anticipated.

The Burial of Cremated Remains

It is possible to have cremated remains buried in our churchyard in one of the designated plots adjoining the School Road entrance to our Churchyard. Plots are always dug for two. Of you would like the plot dug for more than two then this must be arranged at the time of the first burial and you must retain documentary evidence of the plot depth.

Arranging a Funeral

1. Choose a funeral director who will explain the choices available to you and their cost.
2. The funeral director negotiates with you and the Parish Administrator when and where the funeral is to take place.
3. The Priest or Reader taking the service will be given basic details about the deceased by the Parish Office including a contact number so that they can arrange to visit you.
4. The Priest or Reader will telephone you to arrange a convenient time and place to discuss details of the service.

Arranging the Service

You may already have ideas about music, hymns and who might say a few words about the deceased at the service. Please don’t make firm arrangements until our minister has visited you. 

Don’t worry if you  don’t have many or any ideas the Minister will have lots of suggestions from which you can choose. If you choose more than one reading, at least one of the readings must be from the Bible,

It is possible to have a  CD track played as part of the service.

Fees

Details of our Church Fees for the Service should  be available from your Funeral Director. These will be paid to us by them.

Our Churchyard and Monuments

If you wish to mark the grave  or interment plot with a memorial stone you must make the necessary arrangements through our Parish Office.

All stone masons are governed by the Lichfield Diocesan Regulations for headstones and memorial tablets in Churchyards. These regulations are available from our Parish Office on request.

Advice on Arranging a Funeral at the Crematorium

Both Gornal Wood and Stourbridge Crematoria currently offer 20 minutes chapel service times

In addition 5 minutes is allocated is allowed for entry and 5 minutes for exit from the chapel

Although we recognise that each family has their own service requirements we hope that the advice offered below, added to the advice from our local clergy, will assist you in preparing for the service you require.

Music Recommendations

• 1 CD track or organ music on entry
• 1 CD track or 2 Hymns or 1 piece of music during the service
• 1 CD track or organ music on committal of the coffin
• 1 CD track or organ music on exit

Please be aware of the length of each piece of music.

To guarantee the playing of CD’s at the service they must be delivered to your Funeral Director 48 hours before the funeral,

Speakers

If a family member or friend would like to speak at the service, consider either reducing the number of pieces of music or ensure that the tribute readings can be accommodated within the prescribed time.

Please liaise with the minister officiating at the service.

Additional time

If you  think that the contents of the service will be more than the allocated 20 minutes, a double time can normally be offered.

This option is necessary if you think that a large number of people will be attending or, if you would like extra content in to the service

Alternatively our local church may be a more suitable venue.

If a choir, soloist, or instrumentalist is to perform, please remember that you will need to allow for set up time.

Your Funeral Director will inform you of the fee required for this additional time.