Arranging a funeral is one of the most emotional and challenging tasks we face. For some people, holding the service in a Church of England church offers comfort, tradition, and a sense of community. Whether or not you or the deceased attend church regularly, a vicar will help you create a respectful and meaningful farewell for your loved one.
Step 1: Initial Arrangements
Contact the Church
- Choose the church. This could be the parish church where your loved one lived, or one that holds special family significance. You can use this tool to find a church based on postcode.
- Contact the vicar or parish office. Explain your wish to hold the funeral there. They’ll guide you through the process and offer pastoral support. Anyone within a parish can have a Church of England funeral, regardless of churchgoing history.
Notify a Funeral Director
- Find the right funeral director: They will coordinate with the church, arrange transport, and guide you through legal paperwork. You can use The Farewell Guide’s free comparison tool to search over 6,000 UK funeral directors or contact chosen funeral directors directly through our site via phone or secure message.
- Hold an initial meeting: Discuss your preferences, from burial or cremation to music choices. Your funeral director will help with death registration, paperwork and legal requirements.
Choose the type of funeral
- If you decide on cremation: A church minister can lead the whole service at the crematorium. Alternatively, you may have part of the service at the crematorium and part of it in a church.
- If you choose a burial: There are several options:
- A wholly-outdoor or green burial site – while you need to be prepared for the weather, a wholly-outdoor funeral is a great way to bring nature into the funeral for someone who loved the outdoors. Here the coffin will be carried out to the burial site and the minister can do the whole funeral at the graveside.
- A church service followed by prayers by the graveside when the coffin is placed in the ground. The burial ground can be in a different location to the church. The minister and funeral director will let you know how they can help you organise this.
- In a cemetery or churchyard, here the minister conducts the whole service at the graveside.
- A service in the church, after which everyone moves to witness the coffin being placed in the ground. If the cemetery is in a different place to the church, the minister and Funeral Director can help you organise this.
Step 2: Planning the Service
Meet with the Vicar
- Plan the order of service: Think of what to include eg prayers, hymns, readings, and eulogies that reflect your loved one’s life and faith.
- Select readings and hymns: The vicar can suggest popular Bible passages and traditional hymns. You can also personalise with meaningful poetry or music (if appropriate for a church service).
- Tributes and eulogies: Decide who will speak, and discuss timing and tone with the vicar
Farewell Guide Tip: Recording your funeral wishes through our site can help you create a concise plan, ready to share with the vicar and/or close friends and family of the deceased.
Choose the Music
Choose the Music
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Traditional hymns & organ music: Many families choose favourites such as Abide with Me, The Lord’s My Shepherd or Amazing Grace.
- Choirs and live musicians: Some churches have a choirmaster or music director — consider meeting them to discuss arrangements.
- Recorded music: If you wish to play recorded tracks, confirm the church’s facilities and policies. Popular choices include Time to Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, My Way by Frank Sinatra, and Supermarket Flowers by Ed Sheeran. When creating a funeral plan with The Farewell Guide, you can let us know which songs or hymns you would like included in the ceremony, for yourself or a loved one.
Step 3: Logistics and Legalities
Legal Documentation
- Register the death This is usually done by a relative at the local register office and should take place within five days of the death in England. Your funeral director can guide you.
- Secure burial or cremation permits. These are required before the funeral can take place.
Arrange for Burial or Cremation
- Burial. If the church has its own graveyard, the vicar can help arrange a plot. Some families choose to bring their loved one into church the night before.
- Cremation. The funeral service can take place at the church before a short committal at the crematorium.
Eco-friendly option: Many families are choosing natural burials or greener cremations, ask your funeral director about sustainable choices.
Step 4: Day of the Funeral
Arrive Early
- Arrive early to meet the vicar, funeral director, and musicians.
- Appoint family members or close friends to help greet mourners and guide them to their seats.
The Day of the Funeral
Before the Service
- Arrive early to meet the vicar, funeral director, and musicians.
- Appoint family members or close friends to help greet mourners and guide them to their seats.
During the Service
- The vicar will follow the agreed order of service, usually including hymns, prayers, readings, tributes, and a committal.
- If the committal takes place at the churchyard, the vicar will lead it immediately after the service.
You don’t need to be a regular churchgoer to have a Church of England funeral. Vicars and parish teams welcome all families, offering compassion, guidance, and a safe space to honour a loved one’s life.
How The Farewell Guide Can Help
- Compare funeral directors and standardised price lists for different types of funeral, including direct cremation – The Farewell Guide list over 6,000 Funeral Directors nationwide.
- Store important documents securely Keep death certificates, funeral wishes, and music lists in one safe online place.
- Get planning support. Our free guides cover everything from readings to eco-friendly options.
Organising a funeral in a Church of England church involves careful planning and coordination, but it provides a comforting and traditional way to honour a loved one’s life. By working closely with the vicar and a funeral director, you can ensure that the service reflects your loved one’s wishes and offers solace to family and friends. Start your planning journey today at The Farewell Guide, and let us help you create a beautiful, meaningful farewell.
Articles that you may find helpful:
Should you choose cremation or burial?
How to Choose a Funeral Director