When looking at the venue for a funeral service, most people assume it’s a choice between a church or a crematorium chapel. However, this isn’t the case and we support families to hold funeral services in a variety of venues locally.
This works particularly well for families who don’t necessarily want a religious element to the service but still want to celebrate their loved one’s life. Over the years, we’ve organised services at venues including Barnsgate Manor (before it closed), Salomons Estate in Southborough and the Crowborough Community Centre.
Somebody who attended one of these services recently said: “I’ve only ever been to funeral services in churches or crematorium chapels, so I was intrigued to discover that the service was taking place in a hall. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but seating had been arranged and the coffin was there, ahead of a burial. I thought the venue worked really well and it was a beautiful celebration of my friend’s life.”
In theory, you could consider a variety of different venues – from museums and village halls, to wedding barns, pubs or sporting facilities. The decision ultimately depends on the size of the funeral and where you’d like it to be located. If you or somebody you know has a large enough house, you could even hold a funeral service at home. After all, the funeral of Lisa Marie Presley took place in her childhood home, Graceland.
In our local area, families could consider Crowborough Rugby Club, Rotherfield Village Hall or Hendall Manor Barns for instance. In addition, we’ve recently visited a new venue in Rotherfield – Briar House Barns, which offers two different sized barns.
Having said all this, we often find that people who have aren’t actively religious can be drawn at this time to the ‘structure’ a religious service provides. Even the services held in a crematorium chapel can be led by a minister or include hymns and prayers.
In an episode of the podcast Griefcast, the host Cariad Lloyd was talking to the comedian Tom Allen, whose father died in 2021. He said he wasn’t religious but explained: “I found the church service very moving and I liked the way it felt the church held us a bit. I absolutely got it – all those funeral rites and structures that have been done like that for centuries.”
Cariad replied: “It gives you a structure to hang it all on, so you don’t have to think when you can’t think.”
We are flexible here at Tester & Jones and ready to discuss any ideas which reflect your loved one.
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