St James', Alderholt
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St James', Alderholt
Loving God and
loving our neighbour
Loving God and
loving our neighbour
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Funerals
A funeral is a remarkable event. Well conducted, it helps to celebrate and give thanks for each unique life, it gives an assurance that the departed is at peace, and can help bring peace to all who mourn. Even within a relatively short service it is possible for both tears and laughter to seem both natural and healing. At St James’ we take particular care over this aspect of the church’s ministry and we consider it a privilege to be asked to conduct a funeral for any who live in or are connected to our village.
Arranging a funeral at St James
The Service
A funeral service can be conducted at St James’ Church (whether or not the committal is to follow in our churchyard) or the service can take place at one of the local crematoria such as Salisbury or Bournemouth. We are fortunate that our churchyard remains available for burials and is renowned both for its peaceful, beautiful appearance and for its careful upkeep by church members and volunteers. Following a cremation, the ashes may also be buried in the churchyard. This can be arranged very simply and at any suitable time although typically it takes place immediately following a Sunday morning service, following prayers said in church.
Making Arrangements
To arrange a funeral, you can make contact directly with St James’ Church, or you can ask the Funeral Director to contact the vicar to arrange a convenient date and time. The vicar will arrange to visit the next of kin or other family members/friends to discuss and arrange the funeral. Your thoughts and input are very valuable. Every funeral – and each funeral address offered by the minister – is unique and ‘tailor made’ to reflect the individual person being remembered.
Fees
We are required to charge a fee both for conducting the service and for a burial and for any kind of permanent memorial. These fees are shared between our local church and the national Church of England that provides and employs clergy. The vicar receives no personal payment from conducting funerals or other services. You can view the statutory fees here, although in addition we also charge £40 for a verger (who helps the vicar get the building ready and is able to welcome and assist all who attend) and £60 for an organist. In winter a small supplement is also charged if church heating is needed.
Who to contact
To speak with the vicar or our parish office, please feel free to reach out directly by phone or email. We are here to support you through every step and offer any guidance or comfort you may need at this time.