Bereavment and Funerals at St. Nicholas Church
Although the Churchyard at St. Nicholas is closed, a funeral service can
be held in the Church and then go on to either a cemetery or crematorium.
Having the main service in Church means there are no constraints on time.
St. Nicholas is a significant building for many people especially those
who have lived in Laindon for a while, or who were married or baptised
here.
If you would like to hold a funeral service at St. Nicholas please contact
Diane, the Vicar, (revd_diane_ricketts@hotmail.com)
or let your chosen Funeral Director know so that they can contact us.
Alternatively Diane or
Helen (hbryan@talktalk.net) will always be pleased to conduct a funeral service at a crematorium.
Tuesday Tea
Been bereaved?
Finding it hard to cope?
Fancy a chat or some company?
Come and join us for a cup of tea or coffee any Tuesday between 1.30pm and
3.00pm.
You’ll find us at the Manor Mission, Manor Road, Laindon (near Lidl)
Hosted by St Nicholas Church, telephone 01268 411190 for details
HOPE Support Group
If you have recently been bereaved and you would like some support during
this difficult time, please contact
Helen to find out more about HOPE
(Helping Overcome People's Emotions in grief). HOPE is a unique
support group, which offers a combination of education and interaction
in a safe and friendly environment, where your feelings and emotions
will be respected. This is not a counselling session but together,
the group
explores the grief process and works through its many emotions to help
people cope with adjustments to life in the future.
Losing someone you care about can be one of life's most difficult experiences.
There are no easy answers when trying to help a bereaved family come to
terms with their loss. Every situation is unique and people react in different
ways.
The six week support programme is offered at no cost to those attending
and is designed to help support people and show there is hope for the future.
Among the topics discussed are:
The experience of grief.
What is grief?
Grief is an emotional response to a loss.
Confronting our emotions - guilt, anger and loneliness.
Making adjustments.
Grief attacks.
The HOPE support group is a six week support programme which runs
about three times a year meeting in the Laindon Community Centre and
if you would like to find out more, please email: hbryan@talktalk.net,
or phone: 07539268665
Post: c/o St. Nicholas Vicarage, 38 Claremont Road, Laindon, SS15 5PZ
'While we must never minimise the pain and the difficulty of grief, we need to hold on to the hope that some day the pain will subside and life will have meaning again.' Dr Bill Webster, Grief Journey.
Garden of Remembrance
We assure you of our prayers and concern at this time of sorrow and pray
that the Garden of Remembrance will, in part, be a comfort to you and a
help in easing your burden of grief.
Jesus Christ says: “Come to me all of you who are tired from carrying
heavy loads, and I will give you rest”.
Bereavement is something we all experience at some point in our lives, and we all react to it in different ways. Numbness, disbelief, confusion, desolation and fear may describe some of the feelings you are experiencing at the moment. Sorrow is part of the cost of love, and the death of someone close is one of the hardest of life’s experiences.
The Garden of Remembrance has been designed as an area set aside for the interment of ashes with the plinth, supporting the large wooden cross, providing the opportunity for a commemorative plaque.
Control of the garden is in the hands of the Chancellor of the Diocese and with this in mind, and also to help us in maintaining the appearance of the garden, we do ask you to observe the following points:
Grave Plot
We regret that Diocesan regulations do not permit the marking of the
grave plot. However it is possible to locate the grave by reference to
the plot numbering and the grid reference in the Burial Records. You may
also appreciate that this will enable ease of maintenance of the garden,
so benefiting its overall appearance and we hope, serenity.
Should you require a double plot please inform the Vicar while making
the present arrangements.
Memorial Plaques:
As mentioned earlier the plinth provides the opportunity for a memorial
plaque in remembrance of the person whose ashes are at rest in the garden.
Enclosed with this leaflet you will find a form for the ordering and
fixing of a memorial plaque. If you would like to order a plaque this form
should be completed, enclosing your remittance of £35.
(cheque made payable to PCC of Laindon) and forwarded to:
Revd. Diane Ricketts
38 Claremeont Road
Laindon
SS15 5PZ
Tel: 01268 411190
Flowers:
Provision has been made for cut flowers to be placed in the containers
in the flower bed in front of the plinth. We would ask you to note that
in accordance with the Chancellor’s directions, no artificial flowers,
pot plants, stone, etc. may be used. These will reluctantly have to be
removed (Seasonal wreaths excepted).
We are also pleased to offer the opportunity of providing fresh floral tributes in the church to mark a special occasion, e.g. Anniversary. Should you want to either, arrange for flowers or alternatively make a donation to the Church’s flower fund, please contact the Vicar.
Memorial Book:
If you wish to have inscribed a page in the Memorial Book in the Church
please complete the enclosed form and return to the Vicar with the cost
for this which is currently £10.
Images: Views of St. Nicholas Church
