Paying our Respects
While the guidance remains for funerals to take place at the graveside or Crematorium with only immediate family members in the funeral party, our communities and their inventive clergy have been finding ways to make sure they can show their respects.
Courtesy Nick Van de Weyer
In many of our villages, friends and neighbours gather at the roadside as the funeral procession goes past.
This was the case in Marshwood, part of the Golden Cap Team.
Most of the village paid their respects to the former editor of the Golden Cap Magazine, Mark Van de Weyer as his old-fashioned cortège went slowly from Mark's home to St Mary’s church.
Over in the North of our Diocese, the Revd Rachma Abbott, Parish Priest for Lyneham with Bradenstoke & Broad Town, Clyffe Pypard, Tockenham & Hilmarton highlighted an inventive way to insure the local community were able to pay their respects to a popular local character and share in a celebration of his life.
Posting on social media, Rachma said:
"Many of you will be aware of the sad and sudden death of David Edward Bird, known as Dave. The graveside service which is all that is permitted at the moment has restrictions on who may attend - close family to a maximum of 10 people.
"We'd like to invite those who might have wished to come and share in a celebration of Dave's life to participate in the following ways. You can leave a ribbon or a shoelace (and if you want to write a message on the ribbon that is fine)."
She added:
"The ribbons will then be tied to the churchyard hedge in Tockenham and remain there for 7 days as a visible sign of your presence and support. They will then be given to the family, and may be used at a later memorial service."
Rachma also posted the route the hearse would be taking and suggested that:
"If you are able to do so safely, and would like to stand in your front garden keeping social distancing guidelines to pay your respects, that would also be a sign of your support to the family.
"We recognise that it is hard for friends and colleagues not to be able to say farewell in the ways we are used to. Please respect these requirements for the safety of the funeral directors; and for the safety and peace of mind of the family at this very difficult time. "
If you have found new ways to pay your respects and celebrate a life during lockdown, we would love to hear all about it.
Document Actions