Funerals

The History

When the church came into being Roman funerals were events held at night with everyone clothed in black and much crying and wailing. Christian ceremonies took over the same format as pagan funerals (funeral procession, burial or cremation, funeral feast) but they became daytime events with mourners clothed in white and psalms and hymns being sung. The change was brought about by one simple fact; for Christians death is not the end, it is an occasion for joy when Christians go to be with their Lord in certain hope of resurrection. The excesses of the pagan funeral feast, which, for a time were also practised by the church, were replaced by a celebration of the eucharist on the anniversary of death.

In the medieval period the joy and triumph of the early funeral services was once more lost. There was a loss of confidence as people struggled with a consciousness of sin and judgement so that the soul of the dead was not seen as liberated but as being sent to purgatory for purifying punishment. The custom grew up of the wealthy paying for masses for their own souls after death. Death was no longer a victory, rather death and the threat of hell had become a means of disciplining the living.

With the Reformation there was a return to the outlook of the Early Church. The new Prayer Book Service was directed not to the dead, but to the living. It speaks clearly of resurrection and hope and is intended to both comfort and challenge. However, you will often find it argued that our modern society refuses to think about death, sidestepping all mention of it in everyday life and finding it an embarrassment

The Belief

A faith which has death - a crucifixion at its heart cannot ignore the reality of this rite of passage. Christianity teaches that death is not the end but that Jesus has won a victory over death (I Corinthians chp 15 vs 57). By becoming a Christian and entering into union with Christ the believer is pronounced right with God and for him or her death becomes a gateway to a resurrection life (I Corinthians 15). The resurrection body is a spiritual body, but there will be continuity with the earthly body and individuals will remain recognisable. The sense of a loving God permeates all this teaching John chp 3 vs 16.

The funeral service is intended to commend the dead to God's keeping, but it is designed for the living - to offer them consolation in their mourning and to celebrate the glory of the believers' risen life in Christ, here and hereafter.

There are a variety of modern funeral practices; burial and internment, cremation, or committal followed by a memorial service in church. There is also a special service for the death of a child.