Funerals & Bereavement
Let the church help you in this trying time
At Brixington Community Church we are well aware that every family experiences the trauma and distress of bereavement. We are here as a church to help those individuals through this difficult time. We understand the pain of loss even in the midst of Christian hope. Our Minister is available to help plan and conduct a funeral or thanksgiving service.
Christians believe that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ gives them hope and cause for thanksgiving in the face of death.
A funeral is used to mark the end of a person’s earthly life and celebrate all that meant to us. This provides the opportunity for family and friends to come together to express grief, give thanks for the life lived and commend the person into God’s keeping. Sometimes a funeral can be a quiet service with only a few people present while on other occasions it may be a large celebration with a full church. When we give thanks for the life of a faithful Christian we often find that great joy and sadness mingle as we reaffirm that in Christ death is not the end.
How do we arrange a funeral?
When arranging a funeral people tend to 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 our minister whether at Brixington Community Church or at the crematorium, please contact the church office.
Our minister will ask you about the arrangements you would like to put in place for the service, or services. Areas like music, prayers, readings and tributes (which could include a series of photographs of the life of the person) this will all be discussed and he will seek to create an occasion that will do justice to the memory of the person who has died. Sometimes the person who has died may have left details of the sort of funeral that they hoped for and we would want to incorporate their wishes within the service plan.
Burials and Cremations
Brixington Community Church does not have any burial grounds, therefore burials will usually take place at the local cemetery either at Littleham or St Johns, and this would be arranged with your funeral director. Many people today choose cremation and services may take place entirely at the crematorium or as well as a church service. There is a choice of crematorium that serves Exmouth located either at Exeter or at Whimple.
If cremation is desired this leaves the question of what to do with the ashes. There are a number of options that could be considered either to scatter or bury the ashes.
This could be done in the crematorium's garden of rest or you may prefer another option.
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 can affect the bereaved.
Grieving is a natural and important part of coming to terms with the loss of a loved one and may continue for several months. 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. We are happy to offer support in the months ahead following the loss of a loved one.
Sources of help
For more information about the service we offer or help please contact our Minister via the church office on 01395 268720.
For further information
On how to register a death, visit www.gov.uk/register-a-death
On the practical arrangements and how to find a funeral director, visit www.uk-funerals.co.uk or www.nafd.org.uk