Funeral services
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When a Loved One Dies
Nothing prepares us for death. When a loved one dies one may feel alone, in anguished grief. At a time like this, the church reaches out like a mother who cares for her grieving children.
Please be reassured that you will receive every support from the parish team as you arrange the funeral for your loved one. We hope the following guidelines will be of help to you at this sad time.
Making Arrangements
You can contact us by calling 020 8959 1021. Ask for any of the priests, who will meet you to discuss the funeral arrangements, which might include a mass with the liturgy of the word or a service at the crematorium.
You may have already contacted a funeral director. They will liaise with the parish team to help you make arrangements for the funeral. The priest will help and guide you to choose the hymns and readings for the service.
A Bethany choir gives freely of its services for every funeral at the Sacred Heart. You may choose an accompanist who will discuss their stipend with you. Please contact the parish office to obtain our musicians’ contact details. The parish has a policy of standard, religious-themed music.
Planning an Order of Service
When a loved one dies, you can call or visit the presbytery to arrange a meeting with one of our priests, who will talk you through what is required for different types of service. It may be the case that your loved one has already made arrangements for the music and readings for their funeral mass.
You can find out out more about planning a funeral and putting together an order of service here.