Welcome to the West Dartmoor Benefice Funeral Guide.

 The West Dartmoor Benefice covers the parishes of Meavy, Princetown, Sheepstor, Yelverton and Walkhampton.

Death and bereavement is always a time of grief and sadness. Often it is difficult to know which way to turn, but we as the church family are here to help. Grieving is a natural and important part of coming to terms with and healing this loss and it may continue for several months. So we are here to help with support before and after a funeral.  In the first instance please contact the Rector (01822 854653 or email nick.shutt@dsl.pipex.com) who will ensure that you are offered care by the Ministerial Team. 

 

Arranging a funeral

We are fortunate to have a number of very good local Funeral Directors both in Tavistock & Plymouth all of whom will be pleased to assist you sensitively with the practicalities of the Funeral arrangements. The details of the Tavistock Funeral Directors are:

Tavistock and District Funeral Service, 32 West Street, Tavistock, 01822 617300

Morris Brothers, Lakeside, Tavistock, 01822 612023

S.J.Backwell Funeral Services, (the Co-operative),  32a Brook Street, Tavistock. 01822 612034

Please note there are also a number of Funeral Directors based in Plymouth, all of whom offer a very good service. It is not our role or responsibility to recommend any one Funeral Director. That is your choice and decision.

The funeral service

The service will be discussed with you by the Minister taking the service who liaises with the Funeral Directors to make sure that, so far as we are able to do so within the context of a Christian Service, the Order of Service is individually tailored to the person who has died.

The outline of the Funeral Service used in our Benefice can be found by following this link Common Worship.

Services at Crematoria are restricted to 20 minutes only, and it is often difficult to say all you want to say in such a restricted time frame. For that reason, please be aware that it is always possible to have a service in church even if the person who has died is to be cremated. The Minister taking the service will advise you on the content of the service and the Funeral Directors also have access to a great deal of suitable material.

 

Helped by the Minister and Funeral Director you will need to think about some or all of the following:

A Service in Church with a burial or cremation to follow?

A Service at the Crematorium alone?

Would you prefer a quiet Funeral Service with a separate Memorial Service for everyone on the same day or a later date?

Do you want a Printed Order of Service?

Hymns to include in the Service (normally 3 if it is a church service and no more than 2 if it is a service at the Crematorium).

A suitable Bible Reading and any other reading.

What tribute can be given about the life of the deceased and who is going to deliver it? A member of the Family? A Friend? The Minister?

Do you want Flowers or donations in lieu of flowers or a combination of both?

Do you want a retiring collection at the Service for example, a charity or the church?

What arrangements do you wish to make for after the service? At your home or another location?

We are here to help

To finish where we started, please contact the Rector (01822 854653 or email nick.shutt@dsl.pipex.com) if someone has died so that the Ministerial Team can offer spiritual and practical support.