Funerals at St Nicholas Church
A place to remember,
give thanks and find hope.
Funerals at St Nicholas Church
A place to remember, give thanks and find hopeSt Nicholas Church is available for funeral and memorial services. Whether the person who has died was a member of St Nicholas, a regular churchgoer, or had no particular connection with the Church, we are here to support you.
We will work with you and your family to create a Christian funeral that is personal, meaningful and full of care and compassion.
Care and support
Everyone is welcome.
We will listen, guide and support you every step of the way.
Personal and meaningful
Hymns, music, tributes, photos or videos.
Simple and personal
Funerals don’t need to be expensive or elaborate to be deeply meaningful.
Working with you
We work closely with all local funeral directors and can also lead services at crematoria or cemeteries.
Church, crematorium or cemetery?
There are several ways a funeral can be arranged, and we will help you consider what feels right for your family.
A funeral in church
A service at St Nicholas gives family and friends the space and time they need to remember and give thanks for a life. Unlike the time pressures that can sometimes be experienced at a crematorium or funeral home, a church funeral allows the service to take place at a more unhurried pace, offering a setting of dignity, reflection and hope.
We gently encourage families to think about the value of having a funeral service. Saying goodbye is an important part of grieving. A funeral gives us space to remember a person, honour their life and support one another, a moment that can bring comfort not only immediately, but in the days and years that follow.
It is possible to hold the entire funeral service at St Nicholas, including the committal, when the person is to be cremated. This means that family and friends can remain together throughout the service before moving on to a wake or gathering afterwards, if desired. The cremation then takes place privately at your chosen crematorium, with the ashes returned to the family in due course.
A service at a crematorium or cemetery
Our clergy can also lead a funeral service at a crematorium or cemetery. We have well-established relationships with all of the local crematoria and funeral directors and can work closely with them to ensure that everything runs smoothly and with dignity.
A funeral doesn't have to be expensive
Funerals don't need to be elaborate or costly to be meaningful. A simple, personal service can be just as powerful.
If you are worried about the cost of a funeral, please talk to us. We would be very glad to listen, discuss the options with you and explore how we can help.
A funeral is one of the final acts of love we can offer someone.
It is a time to remember, to give thanks, to grieve, and to place our hope in God. Whatever your circumstances, you will receive a warm welcome at St Nicholas.
Making the service personal
Every life is different, and we believe the funeral should reflect the person who has died.
There are many choices available, including:
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Hymns and other music
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An organist and choir
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Readings, poems and personal tributes
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Video and photo tributes on our large screen
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Meaningful secular music alongside traditional Christian music
Our excellent sound system also means that meaningful music, including secular music that was special to your loved one,
can form part of the service.
There are sometimes assumptions that a church funeral has very strict rules about what music can be used. At St Nicholas, we will do everything we reasonably can to honour the wishes of the person who has died and their family.
We will work with you to make the service personal and meaningful.
Burial of Ashes
A peaceful place to remember
The ashes of those who have died may be interred in the St Nicholas Memorial Garden, a beautiful and peaceful space within our church grounds, set aside especially for the burial of ashes.
The Garden of Remembrance is lovingly maintained and cared for, providing a quiet place where family and friends can remember, reflect and pray.
Who can have ashes interred here?
There must be a connection with the Parish of St Nicholas, Chislehurst for us to be able to inter ashes in the Memorial Garden.
If you are considering the burial of a loved one's ashes at St Nicholas, please contact Revd Rachel who will be happy to talk through the arrangements and answer any questions you may have.
Memorial Wall
The names of those whose ashes are interred in the Garden of Remembrance may also be added to our Memorial Wall, providing a lasting place of remembrance within the church community.
Application Form & Memorial Garden Regulations
Before an interment takes place, an application form must be completed and the Memorial Garden Regulations observed.
Please contact the Rector for further information, to request the application form, or to discuss whether your loved one is eligible for interment in the Garden of Remembrance.