A funeral in the Church of Sweden
75 per cent of all funeral ceremonies in Sweden follow the order of the Church of Sweden. It is the one we arrange most often, and the one we know best.
What usually happens at the ceremony?
The funeral follows a set order laid down in the church service book. It is an act of worship, and for members the priest, the musician and the venue are therefore free of charge.
Other costs, such as the coffin, flowers, the death notice and our work, are borne by the estate.
What is useful to know?
- A church funeral requires membership of the Church of Sweden.
- The proportion of members is falling as people leave the church and fewer children are baptised, so fewer and fewer people are automatically entitled to a church funeral.
- In the view of the church, the wishes of the person who has died are to be respected. A church funeral is therefore not held for someone who was not a member.
- A church funeral can also be held in a free church for its own members.
What do we help with?
We handle the contact with the parish, book the time for the ceremony and coordinate with the church musician and the cemetery authority.
The content of the ceremony belongs to the family and the congregation. We make sure that everything around it is in place in time: collection and transport, day or night, coffin and urn, contact with the cemetery authority, the death notice and the online memorial, and all the paperwork for the authorities.
What does it cost?
Because the priest, the musician and the venue are included for members, a church funeral often costs less than people expect. The same price list applies whatever the tradition. See what a funeral costs, or call us and we will work out the figures for your situation.
Where can we read more?
Sveriges Begravningsbyråers Förbund, the Swedish Funeral Directors Association, describes the order of service at begravningar.se. Questions about the parish’s own practice are best put to the parish.
We arrange funerals according to several different traditions.