The glass-sided Wellington hearse outside the church was drawn by two white horses, albeit with black plumes. The coach driver was a lady, wearing a reasonably realistic interpretation of a 19th century coachman’s outfit. The coffin was an American metal casket, supporting a huge display of crimson roses. Behind the equipage were four black limousines, whose roofs were similarly bedecked with floral tributes.
During the funeral service, at which there was a large framed photograph of the deceased on an easel next to the casket unnecessary really, as the contents of the casket were on view for all to see four rather tacky personal reminiscences were delivered, and a friend did her best to sing an aria, which neither she nor the organist had practised beforehand. As the cortege drew away from the church on its journey to the cemetery, the mourners lining the pavement gave a round of applause.
In all, it was dreadfully tacky and had more to do with the merchandise available from the high street funeral director than a religious service to mark the death of a much-loved member of our congregation.
These hideous events, incorporating the worst aspects of the American death industry, have become more popular in the last decade. The spontaneous applause has, I suppose, its origins in the funeral of Diana Spencer, and the long-stem rose cast into the grave after the committal has more in common with grave-side scenes in English soap operas than with the traditional ritual. 'Funerals tailored to one’s tastes' is but another way of allowing mourners to create a uniqueness but, as is so often the case, that which is supposed to be unique soon becomes commonplace. From the historic point of view, absolutely everything about the funeral I have described its ritual, its form of service and the merchandise provided was incorrect from the English point of view.
The days of the 'decent' funeral the body being received on the night before, the requiem or BCP funeral service on the following day, followed by a dignified motorcade (Rolls Royce, of course) to the crematorium or cemetery for the committal seems to be something of the past in metropolitan areas. Now, it’s all for show and not for blow. There is little more stately and dignified than the liturgy and grammar of the BCP office for the Burial of the Dead, interspersed with one or two hymns. Indeed, the same can be said for the Roman Missal and its requiem, perhaps embellished by Mozart’s Missa Brevis by 'rent a choir', followed by a champagne reception in the Parish Hall whilst the committal is taking place.
However, today’s hideous funerals are nothing new. In the late 19th century the Guild of All Souls came into being, specifically to expunge the worst excesses of the funeral trade and to bring back a sense of simplicity and decorum. Perhaps now is the time for a revival of that attitude, or have things gone too far?
Julian W S Litten PhD FSA
