Holding the line
There’s nothing new in a minister-naffs-off-mourners story, nor yet a Catholic-priest-bans-eulogy story. Some minsters are insensitive to the needs of their congregations, some insist on theological orthodoxy, some use a funeral as a conversion opportunity, some like to remind non-churchgoers that they will burn for all eternity in the fires of hell. Some clergy do […]
Stonehenge and sky burial
Posted by Ken West The archaeology at Stonehenge is all about digging up funerary artefacts so is it possible to consider how those funerals occurred? Stonehenge is unique, the only certain stone circle in Britain aligned to the solstices. Forget the Druids, as they did not exist in the Neolithic period and never had any involvement […]
We screwed up, confesses the Co-op
To Nick Goodway in the London Evening Standard it looks more like a ‘massive public relations exercise than a genuine “want to know what you think”.’ He’s talking about the Co-op’s Have Your Say survey, now under way, which gives you the chance to tell ‘the Group’ what you think of it. Yes, the top […]
Win a natural burial plot!
Posted by Daniel Lane of Leedam Natural Heritage Free to enter and open to all We would like all you seasoned and budding photographers alike to grab your cameras and make your way to our natural burial ground near you. Get creative and send us your best. Whether that’s a floral close up, a panoramic view or […]
What do you want at your funeral?
Guest blogger RR writes today for ‘the silent majority of consumers’. With the plethora of funeral options, some people choose to give their own send-off advance thought and leave instructions to their next of kin. This brief survey aims to focus the mind on some of the boxes that might need to be ticked. If […]
Calling all family FDs who’d like to be on telly
Posted by Sarah Rubin of Dragonfly TV Dragonfly Film and TV are currently developing a brand new observational documentary series about a family-run funeral business. We want this to be a warm, sensitive and very moving series, capturing the different ways in which people say goodbye to their loved ones and recognising and celebrating […]
Eulogy clincher
One for you celebrants. US Methodist minister Talbot Davis has written an open letter to fellow pastors on his blog urging them to make a better fist of funerals. He offers lots of sound advice and concludes by urging them to use his favourite line: “[The deceased] is more alive now than they have ever […]
Art of stone
Ever heard of Joss Nankoo? No, I hadn’t either. You have now. He’s a stonemason and lettercutter. Here at the GFG we revere lettercutters. And we love lovely human beings. Joss is both. You can see that. At around twice the price of machine-carved shiny Chinese granite you can buy something bespoke from Joss. You […]
It’s what they don’t tell you
Two questions sent by the GFG to Nottinghamshire CC registrars on 30 Jan 2014. The first relates to the marketing of Notts CC civil celebrants. The second relates to the proposed ‘Living Eulogy’ service as outlined here. Question 1 In your bereavement guide you advertise (pp 25 28) the services of your in-house funeral celebrants. In the text there is […]
When the tide of opinion turns
“Afore ye go.” Remember the slogan? You will if you’re old enough. It spoke to us oldies (Scots: auldies) from billboards everywhere, advertising Bell’s whisky. It echoed the invitation offered as a matter of course in those days to every dinner guest or pub boozer when they announced they were going home: “One for the road?” […]
