Pioneering work from Lichfield Diocese featured in national conference.
Death, dementia, funeral poverty and death-confident congregations are among the subjects highlighted by Revd Dr David Primrose in a keynote speech yesterday at the national Taking Funerals Seriously conference organised by the Church of England.
Based on his work in the diocese, David talked of the positive contribution churches can make to their communities not just the open to all reality when it comes to funerals, but in providing support to those facing their own death or that of a family member in practical and pastoral ways.
The diocese has been a key player in the development of fresh approaches to raising issues for example in the testing phase of the GraveTalk project which encourages people to discuss experiences, thoughts and feelings prompted by questions in a deck of cards.
Participants were treated to extracts from a forthcoming series of videos from the Diocese, the first of which is released today. Blood and Organ Donation witnesses the experience of parents and a husband faced with the unexpected loss of a loved one and experts and advocates in the field. Read more on organ donation here.
Other keynote sessions at the conference share research on trends and cultural change around death, tragedy and mourning in England and the USA and the enduring place, challenge and opportunity that the Church of England has in those circumstances.
More resources for ministers and congregations around the issues in death, dying and funerals can be found here.
Photo: Kate Bradshaw, Helen Babiy, Margaret Sherwin, David Primrose.