FUNERALS
For centuries, the church has supported people in times of bereavement. If you are reading this because someone you have love has died, we will do our best to support you too.
Most people contact a funeral director first. In Berwick, there are (in alphabetical order) Charles Mace & Sons (330099) and the Co-op (307438). It is possible to arrange a funeral yourself without a funeral director and you can find information on this on the internet. It is more work than using a funeral director but can be very satisfying.
The funeral director will contact the minister on your behalf. This enables the funeral director and the minister to ensure their availability to conduct the funeral on a day and at a time that is appropriate for you. We have a team of ministers in these parishes who are available to conduct funerals but do tell the funeral director if you know one of the team and would prefer them to conduct the service for you.
The minister will, if at all possible, meet with you to learn about the person has died and to explain the funeral service to you. If you live away from Berwick, we can do this in a telephone conversation. If you are uncertain about readings and music, including hymns, talk about this with the minister.
Most people contact a funeral director first. In Berwick, there are (in alphabetical order) Charles Mace & Sons (330099) and the Co-op (307438). It is possible to arrange a funeral yourself without a funeral director and you can find information on this on the internet. It is more work than using a funeral director but can be very satisfying.
The funeral director will contact the minister on your behalf. This enables the funeral director and the minister to ensure their availability to conduct the funeral on a day and at a time that is appropriate for you. We have a team of ministers in these parishes who are available to conduct funerals but do tell the funeral director if you know one of the team and would prefer them to conduct the service for you.
The minister will, if at all possible, meet with you to learn about the person has died and to explain the funeral service to you. If you live away from Berwick, we can do this in a telephone conversation. If you are uncertain about readings and music, including hymns, talk about this with the minister.
You can choose to have a funeral service in one of our churches and then to travel to a cemetery or crematorium for the final part of the service. This last part of the service when we say a final goodbye to the person who has died, is called the Committal. Often just immediate family and close friends attend the committal. It is also possible to have the burial or cremation first followed by a thanksgiving service in church immediately afterwards.
People who were residents of Scremerston may be buried in the church yard but Tweedmouth and Spittal residents are buried in Tweedmouth or Berwick cemeteries. There are woodland burial sites just off the A1 towards Newcastle and also on the Mellerstain estate in Scotland.
The nearest crematoria are Houndwood, just beyond Eyemouth off the A1, or Borders near Melrose.
If you prefer, the whole ceremony can take place in the cemetery chapel, at the graveside or at the crematorium chapel.
People who were residents of Scremerston may be buried in the church yard but Tweedmouth and Spittal residents are buried in Tweedmouth or Berwick cemeteries. There are woodland burial sites just off the A1 towards Newcastle and also on the Mellerstain estate in Scotland.
The nearest crematoria are Houndwood, just beyond Eyemouth off the A1, or Borders near Melrose.
If you prefer, the whole ceremony can take place in the cemetery chapel, at the graveside or at the crematorium chapel.
The Church of England funeral service has some set words which the minister will explain to you and some parts which you can choose.
All of our churches can play recorded music but only Spittal and Scremerston have organs for live music.
The pattern of the service is as follows:
All of our churches can play recorded music but only Spittal and Scremerston have organs for live music.
The pattern of the service is as follows:
- Most mourners will be seated before the service. Close mourners may choose to follow the coffin - this is optional.
- Entrance of the coffin (music can be played if you choose), welcome and opening prayer
- Tribute or eulogy of the life of the person who died. Normally we write this with the next of kin/ family when we visit, and we make it fitting and personal, so we try to capture something of the life and personality of the one who has died. It is really helpful if you make a note of important events in the person's life and any anecdotes that give a good insight into their character. It is fine to have amusing stories.
- Hymns or other music - we can advise if you want, on what might be appropriate
- There are a couple of relevant bible readings, and a talk from the minister about the Christian hope.
- Prayers, including for the people who are bereaved and to give thanks for the one who has died.
- We end with a commendation to God, i.e. passing the care of the person who has died into God's care and usually a Committal (at the graveside or at the crematorium).
Money and the funeral
There is a fee for having a funeral in one of our churches - which the funeral director will pay on your behalf. The amount is set by the Church of England to which we add a small amount to cover heating in the winter months and to cover the cost of providing music.
All of our buildings are quite old and need quite a lot of attention to keep them in a good state of repair for future generations. Tweedmouth and Spittal have windows that urgently need repairs as well as behind the scenes work. We are very grateful if you choose to nominate the church to receive some or all the gifts given in someone's memory at a funeral but this is optional.
If you are anxious about being able to pay for a funeral, please talk with the funeral director and you can also find information about the government Funeral Expenses Payment here
All of our buildings are quite old and need quite a lot of attention to keep them in a good state of repair for future generations. Tweedmouth and Spittal have windows that urgently need repairs as well as behind the scenes work. We are very grateful if you choose to nominate the church to receive some or all the gifts given in someone's memory at a funeral but this is optional.
If you are anxious about being able to pay for a funeral, please talk with the funeral director and you can also find information about the government Funeral Expenses Payment here
After the service
We are available to support you in your grief in the months following the funeral. It may be that you need a listening ear and our ministers can visit you at home to offer this - perhaps over a cup of tea. Do get in touch if you would find this helpful. We could also pray with you if you would like (although there is no pressure if you don't want us to).
Some people find grief particularly lonely and it can be hard to motivate yourself to get out and about. We have plenty of occasions to come and be with others - craft groups, coffee mornings, various social occasions. Do come along if you would like some company - you'd be most welcome. Click here for more details, or contact us if you would like someone to keep you company at one of these events.
Even if you've never been to church, when someone close to us dies, we often start questions about what life is all about. Some people start to come to church or you'd be welcome to contact us if you have questions.
Some people find grief particularly lonely and it can be hard to motivate yourself to get out and about. We have plenty of occasions to come and be with others - craft groups, coffee mornings, various social occasions. Do come along if you would like some company - you'd be most welcome. Click here for more details, or contact us if you would like someone to keep you company at one of these events.
Even if you've never been to church, when someone close to us dies, we often start questions about what life is all about. Some people start to come to church or you'd be welcome to contact us if you have questions.
We have a Bereavement Service on the First Sunday in November. We invite the next-of-kin of everyone whose funeral we have conducted in the previous year (unless you ask us not to) but everyone is welcome whenever the person(s) died who you want to remember. We light candles in memory of those who have died, sing hymns and say prayers.
