Funerals
At a time of loss you need as much support as you can. We are here to help in those situations working in partnership with you as a family and with your funeral director. We have a lot of experience of helping people through their loss and grief, acknowledging that a bereavement is often a deeply painful experience.
We also know the importance of the funeral service as a moment for individuals, families and a community to come together to pay their respects to a loved one and to recognise with thanksgiving the life of that person. It is a step along the way as we say our farewells and can be very helpful as a moment both to celebrate the life of your loved one and to start the process of healing our broken hearts.
We are here to help you plan that service and to support you at such times.
The following questions and answers may help you as you think about next steps - please contact us directly if you wish to enquire or make arrangements.
What if I am not a member of Fountainhall Church?
Our care and concern is for all those who live within our parish, whether a church member or not, and whether you have faith or not yourself. We are here to support you at times such as these and will do what we can to offer that help.
Where will the funeral take place?
Services can be held in Fountainhall Church in one of our two Church buildings, or at a Funeral Director's own chapel with a committal for the body thereafter either at a crematorium or graveside. Sometimes the funeral service and committal all take place at the crematorium or graveside. And sometimes circumstances mean that the committal will already have taken place before the service: in that case a Memorial Service can be held later at the church at which the person who has died is remembered.
Who will conduct the service?
If you wish Fountainhall Church to be involved then please let your Funeral Director know and they will get in touch with us to make arrangements. Normally a member of our ministry team will conduct the service.
Can family or friends be involved in the service?
Yes they can. This can take many forms. The minister conducting the service will meet with you and talk with you about the service and about your loved one's life. They will help you to decide on any music to be used or hymns that will be sung and to talk about what else will be contained in the service.
If a family member or friend wishes to give the eulogy, read a poem, sing a song or play a musical piece in tribute, these can be incorporated into the service and the minister will give you guidance on these based on their experience.
Can we show photographs?
Yes. Fountainhall Church has audio-visual systems in both their church buildings that means we can show photographs or videos as part of the service. It can be very powerful to show photographs during the eulogy. The process of both talking through your loved one's life with the church representative and picking out suitable photographs can also be very therapeutic for family and friends. Aberdeen crematorium has a similar facility.
What will the funeral service be like?
While most funeral services have certain elements that are common, each one is different as it is tailored to suit the particular situation.
A service led by one of our ministers will be a Christian one and will usually incorporate a reading from the Bible and a prayer. These will be incorporated into the service in such a way as to help those at the funeral service through their emotions, offering the chance to remember, to give thanks, to seek healing and offer hope.
Funeral services can be filled with many different emotions: sometimes tears, of course, at other times laughter in remembering funny stories, but we always strive to make them meaningful and appropriate for the person and family.
What if someone is unable to be present at the service?
We can provide a recording of the service for those who are unable to attend, and at Fountainhall at the Cross we can also live stream the service online so that they can either join online from anywhere in the world live or watch the service later.
What will it cost?
The Church of Scotland is very aware of the expense of funeral services and has been working with others to raise this concern across the country.
There is no fee or cost associated with the services of one of our ministers. If the service is held at the Funeral Director's chapel, crematorium or graveside there is thus no charge from Fountainhall Church.
If the church building is used there is no charge for the actual use of the church building, but there is a cost for the services of some of the other people that are involved in the service such as the organist, church officer or sound/AV operator. We can advise you of these costs when you contact us.