1. Inevitably funerals are arranged at short notice and at a very sad and emotional time for the whole family. This guidance is intended to help the family plan all aspects of the funeral. All contacts and fees are listed at the end of this guidance.
2. Funeral Service
a. In the first instance contact the Tisbury Resident Priest Fr Tomas and the Tisbury Parish Office who coordinate all Parish Services. Fr. Tomas will discuss dates, who will officiate and the format of the Funeral Service eg a full Requiem Mass or a simpler form of Remembrance/Thanksgiving Service. Agree hymns, readings and who will give the address. The Priest will give the homily. You may of course wish a Priest who is a family friend to officiate and this is no problem but obviously seek Fr Tomas’s agreement. There is no official Chapel Choir so the family may wish to consider their own small choir or soloist if appropriate.
b. As Wardour Chapel is owned by a Charitable Trust and receives no Diocesan assistance as such you are kindly requested to consider inserting the following sentence at the end of the Order of Service:
As Wardour Chapel is owned by a Charitable Trust and
receives no Diocesan assistance as such, there will be a retiring collection at
the end of the Service. Collection plates are on the tables at the rear of the
Chapel and there is a Tap and Donate machine in the Vestibule. Thank you very
much for your support for this beautiful Chapel.
You may also wish to nominate a charity in the deceased’s name and this could be added to the Service sheet.
c. Contact a Funeral Director who will advise on the practical aspects of the funeral including preparation of the body and burial in Wardour Cemetery if desired. Local Funeral Directors who have been used to conduct funerals at Wardour include: Chris White of Salisbury and Wilton; Merefield and Henstridge of Shaftesbury; Coop Funeral Care and Bracher Brothers of Gillingham. The funeral directors will usually pay all third party fees on behalf of the family to save administration worries. These include use of the Chapel, the Wardour Cemetery fee, Parish Fees, organist fees, and any recording of the Service if requested by the family.
d. If interment of the body or ashes is to be at Wardour Cemetery contact the Wardour Cemetery Secretary, Mr Alan MacDermot concerning a burial or cremation plot. The full details are in the Table of Fees and Regulations – here.
e. Contact Nick Wright, the Chapel Trustee responsible for the practical aspects of a funeral; he is always available to answer any practical queries. If available he will assist the Priest on the Sanctuary at the actual Service.
3. Car Parking. The grounds outside the Chapel are private and do not belong to the Chapel Trust. Parking is therefore very limited in the immediate vicinity of the Chapel and is reserved for the Funeral Hearse, immediate family who will accompany the hearse to the cemetery, the Priest and the disabled. The majority of mourners will park in the lower car park as directed by 2 car parkers who are normally Parish volunteers. The lower car park is about 250 metres from the Chapel.
4. Contact details.
a. Clergy/Parish offices.
The Resident Parish Priest Fr Tomas – through the Parish office.
Tisbury Parish Office: [email protected]
b. Funeral Directors.
Chris White: [email protected]
Merefield and Henstridge. [email protected]
Bracher Brothers of Gillingham. 01747 360996
c. All cemetery matters. Mr Alan MacDermot. [email protected]
d. Nick Wright for all general Chapel matters including chapel availability, booking the organist and times for opening/closing the Chapel. [email protected]
5. Fees.
|
Wardour Chapel Fee |
£600 |
|
|
Cemetery Fees |
£600 |
For purchase of a plot. See the Table of Fees and Regulations. |
|
Organist |
£125 |
(or a fee of £100 is payable if family bring their own organist) |
|
Funeral Service |
£234 |
Aligns with CoE charges |
|
Burial if immediately after Funeral Service |
£35 |
|
|
Burial if on a separate occasion. |
£86 |
Approved by the Parish Priest and Chapel Trustees. October 2025