Ministry at the Time of Death

The Wenlock Team Ministry takes its ministry and pastoral care to the bereaved very seriously.

We endeavour to ensure that when a family member or funeral director contacts the clergy to inform us that a loved one has died, or is dying, the call is acted upon immediately.

Wenlock Team Ministry members are available to offer the sacrament of last rites or simple anointing or blessing at home, hospital, care home or hospice, depending on individual family circumstances.

Biblical & Christian traditions teach us that it is important that we gather around the deceased to mourn, give thanks and commend them to God.

A Church or Full Crematorium Service where the coffin of the deceased is present, and the focal point of the gathering celebrates every aspect of a loved one’s life.

BACKGROUND

We live in the age of choice when it comes to arranging funerals.

Some of our loved ones who have died will have left clear instructions concerning their funeral wishes. Others will have left it to family members to decide as best they can, out of respect and knowledge of the deceased.

The Wenlock Team Ministry conscientiously delivers a Christian Funeral Service that is tailored to the pastoral needs of the family.

Funeral services can take place in the following forms:

1. A Full Church Service followed by Cremation or Burial

2. A Full Service at the Crematorium.

The order of service and pastoral needs of the family will be discussed mutually with the officiating minister.

The Wenlock Team Ministry strongly discourages short committals at the Crematorium or graveside followed by separate memorial services at one of our churches.

It is the policy of the Wenlock Team Ministry that Funerals and Memorial Services DO NOT take place on the same day.

If for whatever reason families do not wish to travel to the Crematorium after a funeral service in church, the act of committal takes place as the coffin enters the hearse.

The officiating minister and funeral director will then accompany the hearse to the Crematorium to complete the ceremony in a respectful and dignified manner.

In very exceptional circumstances a simple cremation or burial followed by a thanksgiving service in church will be allowed, however this will incur a full fee for each of the separate ceremonies.

Thank you for your co-operation and support.

Matthew Stafford (Revd Preb)
TEAM RECTOR