Christian funerals

Christian beliefs about death

Christians believe that death is a passing rather than an ending. The Nicene Creed, shared across faiths, looks for ‘the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come’. Christian death takes its meaning from the death and resurrection of Christ, so a funeral is both a farewell and a statement of hope.

Beyond that shared ground, beliefs differ. Catholic teaching holds that souls who die in God's grace but are not yet fully purified go through a period of purification before entering heaven – which is why prayer for the person who has died matters so much in a Catholic funeral. Methodist teaching focuses on resurrection rather than an immortal soul. Many Protestant churches say less about what happens straight after death, and more about the promise of eternal life to come.

Christian funeral ceremonies

In the UK a Christian funeral usually takes place a week or two after the death, arranged around the family, the church and the crematorium or cemetery. It may be held in church, at the graveside, at a crematorium chapel, or split between two of these.

What happens inside the service depends on the church. A Catholic funeral centres on the Mass. An Anglican or Methodist funeral follows a set liturgy from an authorised service book. A Baptist funeral is shaped locally by the minister and family. A Quaker meeting for worship is held largely in silence. All of them end with the committal.

Christian funerals differ between churches, so if you are unsure about anything it is always fine to ask the family or the minister. Here's what to expect:

• Committal: The point of farewell at which the minister says ‘earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust’, before burial or cremation.
• Commendation: The prayer entrusting the person who has died to God, said before the committal.
• Pallbearer: One of the people who carries the coffin into the service.
• Order of service: The printed booklet setting out the hymns, readings and prayers, and often carrying a photograph.
• Eulogy or tribute: The spoken remembrance of the person who has died. Some churches welcome it in the service; others prefer it at the gathering afterwards.
• Interment of ashes: The burial of ashes after a cremation, often a separate service days or weeks later.
• Garden of remembrance: The area at a crematorium where ashes may be buried or scattered.
• Churchyard: The burial ground attached to a parish church.
• All Souls’ Day: 2 November, when many churches hold a service to remember those who have died.
• Wake: The gathering after the funeral, at a home or a nearby venue.

The cost of a Christian funeral in the UK depends on the funeral director, the church, and the crematorium or cemetery you choose, along with any personal touches. Most families choose an attended funeral with a service led by their own minister, followed by burial or cremation. Church fees, and cemetery or crematorium fees, are set separately from our own and vary by location. Your local Dignity funeral director can talk you through everything that is included, and the costs, so you can plan with confidence.

At Dignity, we’re here to support people of all religions and none. We can arrange Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Quaker, Orthodox, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Sikh funerals. Call your local funeral director today to talk about your needs.