Funerals
Celebrating the life of a departed loved one
“God gives life and God takes life away”
“The taking away is difficult because what he has given is good”
Please accept our sincere condolences if you have recently lost someone much loved. You will have much on your mind at this difficult time and we hope the following information will help as you begin to think about making arrangements. You are much in our prayers.
The Priest in Charge conducts funeral services at church and also local crematoriums. All Hallows is an ancient house of prayer where life and love are celebrated and where tears are shed in the saying of farewells. We want you to know that the church is always available for funerals and memorial services for the community of Harthill with Woodall.
We hope that you will consider holding the funeral service in church, especially if this holy place is where your loved one was christened or married. Please also bear in mind that elderly people may be able to attend a church service, but might find it much more difficult to travel to a crematorium. It is also wise to use the church if you feel that a large congregation may be present.
We personalise each service to suit the unique personality of your loved one. We produce a special service sheet for all church funerals, which family, friends, neighbours and colleagues may like to take away with them. Hymns may be sung in church, other favourite or cherished music or songs may be played on CD and personal tributes can also be given. A church service lasts just under half an hour and we would reassure you that we will finish in plenty of time for everyone to make their way to the crematorium for the short committal service. Obviously travelling time to the crematorium doesn’t apply in the case of a burial.
Your loved ones name will appear on the registers page of our newsletter, these are available in church after any service. Please contact the Priest in Charge if you also wish to have their name entered into our church memorial book or for advice on memorials in our cemetery.
Finally, towards the end of the year, we hold an annual service to remember those who have passed away during the previous months. During the autumn months the Priest in Charge will write with further details of this valued service, a time to symbolically light candles to help through the darkness of grief and in memory of those who are greatly loved and missed.
We also hold a service ‘Remember Our Child’ in Wales Parish Church just before Christmas where bereaved parents are invited in a dimly lit church to light candles in memory of loved ones.
Death is a mystery, it comes to us all. As Christians we place our trust in God and the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die” (Thomas Campbell)
Please look at this useful link if you’re considering a church funeral