When there’s no body

I conducted a funeral service recently for a family where Grandma had left her body to medical science. The family carried a framed photo of the deceased into church (instead of a coffin) and placed it on a table at the front. The table also had a large single candle which I lit once the picture was in place. At the committal I blew out the candle (instead of closing the curtains at the crematorium or putting earth into a grave) and then, after the Blessing, the family collected the picture and processed out with it.

 

David Robertson, Vicar, South Ossett.