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Funerals 

 

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Funerals are a very important aspect of our Christian ministry at St Margaret's. Our faith in Jesus Christ, who himself rose from the dead, enables us to point those we care for to a God of hope and love.  If you have been recently bereaved, you can contact us to speak to one of the team or read on for further details.
 

Can anyone have a funeral conducted by a minister from St Margaret's?

We are pleased to conduct funerals at the church or a crematorium for any resident of the parish, regular worshippers and those registered on our electoral roll.  Occasionally, we minister at funerals for those who live beyond the parish boundaries if the deceased or their family has a strong connection with the church, for example, a long-standing parishioner who has moved away but whose family still worship at the church. 

We would also conduct a funeral for someone from outside the parish whose body will be interred in an existing grave or ashes plot which was originally prepared for two.
 

Can I be buried at St Margaret's?

We are very fortunate to have an open churchyard.  If you are a resident of the parish or are a member of this congregation and on the electoral roll,  you will be eligible for burial here.  Because space is limited we can no longer do burials in the church grounds for those living outside the parish boundaries unless a space has been reserved in the existing grave of a loved one, normally a spouse.
 

Can I reserve a burial space at St Margaret's?

This is no longer possible. The obvious exception is where there is an existing grave and it has been planned that you are laid to rest with a loved one.
 

Is it possible for cremated remains to be scattered in the churchyard?

It is no longer possible to do this for reasons of health and safety. However, we do have a Garden of Remembrance where a turf may be lifted and ashes strewn underneath. The formal burial of ashes with a stone follows the guidance above for burials.
 

What is the Book of Remembrance?

Our Book of Remembrance is kept on display within the church. Entries can be made in memory of any loved one, even if there are no connection with the parish, an entry can be made to the book (there is an additional charge for this). Please contact our Parish Administrator on 01737 552160 for more information.  


How do I arrange a funeral at St Margaret's?

If you have just recently been bereaved, please accept our condolences.  Firstly be in touch with your local funeral director and they will give you all the guidance you need on the practicalities of arranging a funeral. You can contact us directly or through your funeral director. A visit can then be arranged at a mutually appropriate time.
 
The loss of a loved one raises big questions about life, loss and the future.  If you have questions that we might be able to help with, please do get in touch.

For more information, please visit the Church of England website 
Hello
Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Planning your Visit

New to Church?

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and When

We meet at St Margaret’s Church for our Sunday Services . We now have two services of differing styles on offer, Holy Communion will be celebrated at one of these services every week. 
 
The first service starts at 8:45am and this will be BCP (Book of Common Prayer) traditional worship with hymns.
 
The second service starts at 10:15am and will be more contemporary worship with band led music. Groups for under 18's will be held, starting off in church together. Communion will be held at one service each week.
 
We will hold a Unified service at 10am celebrating the best of both traditions. This will be for occasions such as Remembrance Sunday, Christmas Day, Easter Sunday, and our Patronal Festival. We will also come together as one church family when there is a 5th Sunday in the month.  

For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you get a parking space and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you will be greeted by someone on our Sides Team, please make yourself known, that you are visiting for the first time so that we may give you a welcome pack.

We serve tea, coffee and biscuits after each service.  It is a great way to meet people, or simply take time to find your bearings. All refreshments are free.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Sides Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. There is also a disabled toilet and baby changing facilities.

Our Service

Each service begins with a warm welcome from our Rector. We have a mixture of services, comprising of Morning Prayer, Holy Communion, BCP Communion, Morning Worship and All Together. Our music is organ and band. We typically have 3 or 4 songs. We then share news and notices, usually about what’s going on in the life of the church. Our Rector will then give a sermon that is bible based and that we can apply to our everyday life. We then finish with a final worship song. There is always an opportunity to receive private prayer at the end of the service.

What about my children?

We have a great programme lined up for children of all ages:

  • Bubbles (3-5 years)
  • Juniors (6-11 years)
  • Ignite (11-14 years)
  • Youth (14+ years)
Children stay with their parent or grown-up at the start of the service for the welcome, songs, and notices. We really value worshipping God all together as a family. At the end of the notices someone will announce that it’s time for the younger members to go to their various groups. You will need to go with your children to their groups and register them as part of our child safety policy.

The children’s group activities vary depending on the age but usually there is a friendly welcome, bible stories, testimonies, praying, music, craft, drama, fun games, and free play. Please pick your children up as soon as the service finishes, usually around 11.15am.


Getting Connected

 
Small Groups
While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some afternoons, and some evenings. Check out Small Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Serving and Volunteering
If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us, make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team. 
 
Get in touch with us to plan your visit
If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.
Name:
Telephone:
Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?
Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.

 
We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at our church.

Best Wishes