Jane Smith ~ Lay Bereavement Minister

Hilary Cryer ~ Lay Bereavement Minister

At St Giles we not only conduct funeral services in church, but also at the Heart of England Chapel in Nuneaton and at Canley Crematorium in Coventry and at many of the cemeteries in the area.

Every funeral is different and it is a privilege to be able to conduct a funeral.  It must be handled with sensitivity and compassion and the needs of the family and the requests of the deceased must be paramount. 

Whoever is to conduct the funeral service visits the bereaved family to talk through the funeral service; they try to ease the burden of loss with the use of Bible readings, hymns and poems.  It can also be very helpful if the family can be encouraged to write some details down of the deceased as the more details you have of someone's life story a more complete picture of someone's life can be achieved.

There are two Memorial services a year for the departed.

• All Souls Service held in November, where the bereaved are invited to a special service, where their loved ones names are read out and a candle is lit to help them through the darkness of grief.
  

• Remember Our Child service is held just before Christmas where again the bereaved parents are invited in a dimly lit church to place a lighted candle on the altar; readings poems and music play an important part to help the families along the long road of grief.

Death is a mystery, it comes to us all.  As a Christian the sure hope of eternal life can be a comfort to those who are left.  Although there is a deep hole left by the deceased, those in the bereavement team can offer a helping hand and guide them gently from the darkness of grief, so that they may face their life again with hope.

There are many poems and readings that we can use.  Here is a sample of one, that brings comfort to the family:

Remember me when you see a sunrise
Remember me when you see a star
Remember me when you see a rainbow
Or woods in autumn colours from afar

Remember me whenever you see the roses 
Or seagulls sailing high in the sky of blue
Remember me whenever you see the waves
Shining in the sun
And remember I'll be remembering you

Remember me whenever you see a teardrop
Or meadows still wet with the morning dew
Remember me whenever you feel love 
Growing in your heart.
And remember, I'll be remembering you.

Jane Smith ~ Bereavement Minister

To visit our Garden of Rest and our beautiful churchyard click here.