Funerals and Bereavement

"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. To acknowledge this at the beginning of the service should help us to use this 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. Those who mourn need support and consolation. Our presence at the funeral is part of that continuing support."

- from the Common Worship Funeral Service.

Bereavement is enough for anyone to try to cope with without the pressures of organising a funeral. In our experience the organising of the service, can be a complicated and emotionally draining time. So anything you can do to prepare is well worth doing.

Registering the death can be difficult. Sometimes the coroner may have to be involved before the death can be registered. This happens when a doctor hasn't been able to ascertain the cause of death immediately, or if the deceased has not seen a doctor for some time.

You will need to contact a funeral director, who will be able to guide you through the organising of the funeral. It is important that you ask the funeral director any questions you might have, and share any thoughts. The funeral director is there to help you.

You can contact the parish clergy direct on the numbers on our contact page, or ask the funeral director to do so. We will liaise with the funeral director to make sure that you are fully supported, and plan a service that meets your needs, and the wishes of your loved one.

In our area, there are a number of possibilities for the funeral service. A service can be held in church. A service can be held in a crematorium chapel. A service can be held at the graveside. A service in church may conclude with a trip to a cemetery or a crematorium (in this case it is possible to have the committal in church, and ask the funeral director to proceed to the crematorium without you).

After cremation, you may require us to be present at either the interment of your loved ones remains. The remains are normally placed in a wooden casket, and are buried in a simple ceremony lasting a few minutes. Again this can be arranged either directly with ourselves or through your chosen funeral director.

The clergy of St Catherine's are available to pray with anyone who is dying.

We also remember all those for whom we have performed funerals in a bi-annual memorial service, (please check our online calendar for exact dates and times they are normally held in May and November) and invite friends and family to join with us.

If you would like to talk to a minister please write, telephone or email:

St Catherine's Vicarage
Aylsham Road
Norwich
NR3 2RJ

Telephone: 01603 426767

Click here to email the vicar.

Helpful links:

Church of England