BURIAL

Guidelines for Burial Services in the Episcopal Church

As is the custom in the Episcopal Church, Westover Church uses The Book of Common Prayer for all services. For generations people have found the eloquent language of this beautiful liturgy provides comfort and peace to those who grieve. It is essentially an Easter liturgy which celebrates the life of the deceased loved one. It enables those who attend the service to experience the joy and hope of the resurrection in the midst of their grief and sadness. The following guidelines have been assembled to ease the burden of making decisions during a time of mourning.

Planning the Service

There are three types of services for the departed:

A Funeral is the liturgy for the Burial of the Dead with the body present, either a coffin or as ashes in an urn.

A Committal is a brief service of burial that usually follows the funeral directly at the place where the body or ashes are to be interred. It can also be a stand-alone event.

A Memorial Service is a liturgy without either the body or ashes present. It can be held at any time from a few days up to a year after death.

About the Funeral Liturgy

There are two liturgies for funerals, Burial I (p. 469) and Burial II (p. 491). Both can be found in The Book of Common Prayer or online. The difference between the services is primarily the language; Burial Rite II uses contemporary language and Burial Rite I uses language in the style of “Old English.” In both rites, the option for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist is offered. Both services have choices for scripture readings which are listed in the Prayer Book and at the end of this document. Choices are not limited to these readings which are meant to be helpful in designing the service. The Minister who helps the family design their service will provide suggestions for lessons and prayers and the Organist will help the family plan their musical selections.

Further Considerations

The coffin is to be closed before the service, and it remains closed thereafter. It is appropriate that it be covered with a pall or other suitable covering.

Members of the Westover Church Altar Guild will place the pall on the casket when it enters the church, and will remove it as it leaves the church. Flowers are not allowed on the pall. In the event of military honors, an American flag may be substituted for the funeral pall over the coffin.

The coffin is closed when the body enters the church and remains closed thereafter. The closing of the coffin permits the mourners to acknowledge the parting caused by death and to commend the deceased to God. When the services of a priest cannot be obtained, a deacon or lay reader may preside at the service.

If cremation has already taken place, the ashes should be present at the service.

Flowers

Flowers for the funeral are arranged and placed by the Westover Altar Guild. No flowers may be used inside the church except those designated for the windows behind the altar. Rather than incur the waste of huge bouquets of flowers, friends and family of the deceased are encouraged to contribute to a charity or to the church.

Organizational Rites

Fraternal or other organizational rites may not take place on the church property. If such a service is desired, it should precede the church service. The vigil would be a good time for these rites if it is held at the funeral home or in a private home.

Burial Fees

The use of Westover’s Cemetery is primarily for members of Westover or those who have a prior relationship with the church. The use of the Memorial Garden is at the discretion of the Rector.

Pastoral care and services regarding the dying or death of a loved one can be arranged by contacting our Rector at 804-829-2488. Members of Westover may request to be buried on the church grounds. Special arrangements can be made to bury the ashes of non-members in Westover’s consecrated memorial garden.