Funerals and bereavement

At High Street Baptist Church we are well aware that every family experiences the trauma of bereavement from time to time. We have many years’ experience of supporting people through this most difficult of life’s events. We understand the pain of loss even in the midst of Christian hope. Our ministers are always available to help plan and conduct a funeral or thanksgiving service and our pastoral team seek to stand with those experiencing loss.

Christians believe that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ gives them hope and a cause for thanksgiving in the face of death. A funeral is used to mark the end of a person’s life here on earth. Family and friends come together to express grief, give thanks for the life lived and commend the person into God’s keeping. It can be a small, quiet ceremony or a large occasion in a packed church.

How do we arrange a funeral?

Most people will use the services of a local funeral director, who will provide advice and organise all the practical arrangements. If you would like a funeral to involve High Street Baptist Church and one of the ministers it is a good idea to find out if they are available before booking the time and date of the service. The person who has died may have left details of the sort of funeral that they hoped for. Our ministers will want to support families in keeping to such arrangements as much as possible and in making the service a personal and appropriate occasion. Taking funerals is an important part of the church’s work and our ministers will take time to visit families, offering comfort and support before and after the funeral itself. We can also offer, if appropriate, the ongoing support of one of our pastoral team.

Burials and cremations

High Street Baptist Church does not have any burial grounds, therefore burials usually take place at the Tring cemetery. Just over half of funerals today are cremations and services may take place entirely at the crematorium with a church service as well. If cremation is desired this leaves the question of what to do with the ashes. Crematoria and cemeteries have gardens of remembrance where they can be buried or scattered.

Bereavement

The time between a person’s death and their funeral is often very busy and full of practical arrangements. Often it is only after the funeral that the full extent of loss affects us. Grieving is a natural and important part of coming to terms with and healing this loss and it may continue for several months or longer. There are those at HSBC and associated organisations who understand and have experienced this kind of loss. They will be able, where appropriate, to offer support in the months and years following a death. There are patterns and themes to bereavement but each person is different and it is important for people to be supported in finding their own way through grief.