Funeral hymns and readings

Henry Francis Lyte, 1847

The most requested funeral hymn in the UK. Sung to the tune Eventide.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Comforting
• Reflective
• Faith
• Peace
• Hope

Psalm 23, Scottish Psalter 1650

Almost always sung to the tune Crimond. A Scottish favourite, known everywhere.

• Christian
• Scottish
• Church of England
• Comforting
• Gentle
• Faith
• Peace
• Journey

John Newton, 1779

Equally at home in religious and non-religious services. Beautiful on solo bagpipes.

• Christian
• Scottish
• Non-religious
• Comforting
• Uplifting
• Hope
• Faith
• Journey

Cecil Frances Alexander, 1848

Gentle and familiar from school days. Often chosen for a much-loved grandparent or a child.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Gentle
• Uplifting
• Nature
• Childhood
• Celebration of life

William Blake, 1804 (music Hubert Parry, 1916)

Stirring and proudly English. A strong closing hymn that a congregation will really sing.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Non-religious
• Triumphant
• Uplifting
• Courage
• Celebration of life

William Williams, 1745

Known as “Bread of Heaven”. A Welsh favourite, magnificent with a big congregation.

• Christian
• Welsh
• Triumphant
• Comforting
• Journey
• Faith
• Courage

Charles Wesley, 1747

Warm and much-loved, often used at weddings too — a comforting thread for a long marriage.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Welsh
• Uplifting
• Comforting
• Love
• Faith
• Hope

John Greenleaf Whittier, 1872

Calm and steady, sung to Repton. A good opening hymn when the family want quiet dignity.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Reflective
• Gentle
• Peace
• Faith

John Ellerton, 1870

An evening hymn that works beautifully as a closing hymn at a funeral.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Reflective
• Gentle
• Peace
• Journey

Henry Francis Lyte, 1834

Bright and confident. Lifts a service that is celebrating a long, full life.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Triumphant
• Uplifting
• Celebration of life
• Faith

Eleanor Farjeon, 1931 (tune Bunessan, traditional Gaelic)

Fresh and hopeful. Widely sung at funerals since Cat Stevens' recording.

• Christian
• Scottish
• Uplifting
• Gentle
• Nature
• Hope
• Celebration of life

Carl Boberg, translated by Stuart K. Hine, 1949

A powerful, well-known hymn with a soaring chorus.

• Christian
• Triumphant
• Uplifting
• Nature
• Faith

Sebastian Temple, 1967, after the Prayer of St Francis

A gentle Catholic favourite, easy for a congregation that does not sing often.

• Christian
• Catholic
• Irish
• Gentle
• Reflective
• Peace
• Love
• Faith

Katharina von Schlegel, 1752, tr. Jane Borthwick

Sung to Finlandia. Deeply consoling, and often requested after a long illness.

• Christian
• Scottish
• Comforting
• Reflective
• Peace
• Faith
• Courage

Isaac Watts, 1708

Solid and dignified. A traditional choice for an older person or a formal service.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Reflective
• Comforting
• Faith
• Hope
• Remembrance

Cecil Spring-Rice, 1918 (music Gustav Holst)

Sung to Thaxted. Traditional for service personnel and civic funerals.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Triumphant
• Reflective
• Service life
• Courage
• Remembrance

William Whiting, 1860

The Navy hymn. Chosen for seafarers, fishermen and anyone with a life at sea.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Reflective
• Triumphant
• Service life
• Journey
• Courage

Sabine Baring-Gould, 1865

Rousing and familiar. Often chosen by families who want the service to end with lift.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Triumphant
• Uplifting
• Courage
• Faith

Edmond Budry, 1884, tr. Richard Hoyle

Joyful and resurrection-centred. A confident hymn to close a service of thanksgiving.

• Christian
• Triumphant
• Uplifting
• Hope
• Faith
• Celebration of life

Walter Chalmers Smith, 1867

A grand Welsh tune (St Denio) with dignified words. Good as an opening hymn.

• Christian
• Welsh
• Scottish
• Triumphant
• Reflective
• Faith
• Nature

John Henry Newman, 1833

A quiet Catholic favourite about trusting one step at a time.

• Christian
• Catholic
• Reflective
• Comforting
• Journey
• Faith
• Hope

Francis Stanfield, 1880

A tender hymn often sung at Catholic Requiem Mass.

• Christian
• Catholic
• Irish
• Gentle
• Reflective
• Faith
• Peace

Anima Christi, 14th century, tr. anonymous

A traditional Catholic hymn, simple to sing and deeply familiar to older congregations.

• Christian
• Catholic
• Irish
• Reflective
• Comforting
• Faith
• Peace

John Lingard, 1830

A Marian hymn, sometimes sung as the coffin leaves a Requiem Mass.

• Christian
• Catholic
• Irish
• Gentle
• Comforting
• Faith
• Journey

Daniel James (Gwyrosydd), 1890s

A pure heart, not riches. Sung in Welsh with enormous feeling; we set the Welsh text carefully.

• Welsh
• Christian
• Uplifting
• Reflective
• Faith
• Love
• Celebration of life

Traditional Welsh, words by Sir Harold Boulton

A lullaby-like farewell. Very moving sung slowly at the close of a service.

• Welsh
• Non-religious
• Christian
• Gentle
• Comforting
• Peace
• Love
• Remembrance

Priscilla Jane Owens, 1882

The Boys' Brigade hymn. A strong choice where there is a maritime or youth-organisation link.

• Christian
• Scottish
• Irish
• Uplifting
• Triumphant
• Courage
• Faith
• Journey

Cecil Frances Alexander, 1848

Simple and tender. Familiar to anyone who sang hymns at school.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Irish
• Gentle
• Reflective
• Faith
• Hope

Charles Wesley, 1740

Intimate and consoling — a hymn of shelter in a storm.

• Christian
• Welsh
• Comforting
• Reflective
• Faith
• Peace
• Love

Martin Rinkart, 1636, tr. Catherine Winkworth

A hymn of thanksgiving. Fitting when the service is truly a celebration of a long life.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Triumphant
• Uplifting
• Celebration of life
• Faith
• Remembrance

William Walsham How, 1864

Sung to Sine Nomine. Grand, processional, and well suited to a church funeral.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Triumphant
• Remembrance
• Faith
• Hope

George Bennard, 1913

Heartfelt and old-fashioned in the best way. Frequently requested by older families.

• Christian
• Comforting
• Reflective
• Faith
• Hope

Jan Struther, 1931

Follows the day from morning to night. Gentle, hopeful and easy to sing.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Gentle
• Uplifting
• Hope
• Peace

Henry Scott Holland (1847–1918)

The best-known funeral reading in Britain. Warm, conversational, easy to read aloud.

• Christian
• Non-religious
• Church of England
• Comforting
• Gentle
• Love
• Remembrance
• Peace

Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892)

A calm poem about setting out to sea. Lovely for someone who loved the water.

• Non-religious
• Christian
• Reflective
• Gentle
• Journey
• Peace
• Hope

King James Version

The shepherd psalm. Often read even when the hymn version is also sung.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Catholic
• Comforting
• Faith
• Peace
• Journey

Ecclesiastes 3:1–8, King James Version

A measured, universal reading that suits religious and secular services alike.

• Christian
• Non-religious
• Catholic
• Reflective
• Peace
• Remembrance

1 Corinthians 13, King James Version

Read at weddings and funerals alike — especially fitting for a long marriage.

• Christian
• Catholic
• Church of England
• Comforting
• Uplifting
• Love
• Faith

John 14:1–6, King James Version

A promise of welcome. Very often read at church funerals and Requiem Mass.

• Christian
• Catholic
• Church of England
• Comforting
• Hope
• Faith
• Journey

Revelation 21:1–4, King James Version

A reading of consolation, often chosen after a long illness.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Comforting
• Uplifting
• Hope
• Peace
• Faith

Traditional, attributed to St Francis of Assisi

A prayer of peace and service — good for someone who gave their time to others.

• Christian
• Catholic
• Irish
• Gentle
• Reflective
• Peace
• Love
• Faith

Christina Rossetti (1830–1894)

A short sonnet that gently releases those left behind from guilt.

• Non-religious
• Christian
• Reflective
• Gentle
• Remembrance
• Love

Christina Rossetti (1830–1894)

Quiet and unfussy — no grand mourning, just green grass and remembering.

• Non-religious
• Humanist
• Reflective
• Gentle
• Nature
• Remembrance
• Love

Rupert Brooke (1887–1915)

For a serviceman or servicewoman, or anyone with a deep love of home.

• Non-religious
• Church of England
• Reflective
• Service life
• Remembrance
• Courage

Laurence Binyon, 1914

The Act of Remembrance. Traditional for veterans and British Legion funerals.

• Non-religious
• Church of England
• Reflective
• Remembrance
• Service life
• Courage

Helen Lowrie Marshall (1904–1975)

A short, much-loved piece asking to be remembered with a smile.

• Non-religious
• Humanist
• Comforting
• Gentle
• Remembrance
• Love
• Celebration of life

Attributed to Mary Elizabeth Frye (1905–2004)

One of the most requested poems in Britain. Suits burials and scatterings especially.

• Non-religious
• Humanist
• Comforting
• Gentle
• Nature
• Remembrance
• Peace

David Harkins (b. 1958)

Read at the Queen Mother's funeral. Encourages smiling rather than only grieving.

• Non-religious
• Humanist
• Uplifting
• Comforting
• Celebration of life
• Remembrance
• Love

Linda Ellis, 1996

About the years between two dates, and how they were spent. Popular at celebrations of life.

• Non-religious
• Humanist
• Reflective
• Uplifting
• Celebration of life
• Remembrance

Anonymous, traditional

Plain-spoken and practical — a request not to dwell too long in sorrow.

• Non-religious
• Humanist
• Christian
• Comforting
• Remembrance
• Peace
• Love

Traditional Irish and Scottish

A farewell song that also reads beautifully aloud. Warm, and not solemn.

• Irish
• Scottish
• Non-religious
• Reflective
• Uplifting
• Celebration of life
• Love
• Remembrance

Traditional Irish

Short, generous and easy to close a service with.

• Irish
• Christian
• Catholic
• Gentle
• Comforting
• Peace
• Journey
• Love

Lord Byron (1788–1824)

A tribute to grace and gentleness — often chosen for a mother or wife.

• Non-religious
• Humanist
• Gentle
• Reflective
• Love
• Remembrance

William Ernest Henley (1849–1903)

Defiant and strong. For someone who faced life, or illness, head-on.

• Non-religious
• Humanist
• Triumphant
• Reflective
• Courage
• Celebration of life

W. H. Auden, 1938

Raw and honest grief, made famous by Four Weddings and a Funeral.

• Non-religious
• Humanist
• Reflective
• Love
• Remembrance

Wendell Berry, 1968

Rest found in the natural world. Suits an outdoor or woodland burial.

• Non-religious
• Humanist
• Gentle
• Reflective
• Nature
• Peace

Dylan Thomas, 1945

Childhood, summer and time passing. A Welsh classic, best read by a strong reader.

• Welsh
• Non-religious
• Reflective
• Uplifting
• Childhood
• Nature
• Celebration of life

Isla Paschal Richardson (1886–1971)

Written in the voice of the person who has died, asking for smiles rather than tears.

• Non-religious
• Humanist
• Comforting
• Love
• Remembrance

Jenny Joseph, 1961

Funny and full of life. Lifts the room for someone who was gloriously themselves.

• Non-religious
• Humanist
• Uplifting
• Celebration of life

Non-religious words for a committal

A simple secular farewell, written to be said at the committal without any religious reference.

• Humanist
• Non-religious
• Reflective
• Comforting
• Celebration of life
• Remembrance
• Love

Bishop Charles Henry Brent (1862–1929)

The ship sailing over the horizon. Comforting and easy to picture.

• Christian
• Non-religious
• Comforting
• Journey
• Hope
• Peace

Rudyard Kipling, 1910

Steady, practical advice on how to live. Often chosen for a father or grandfather.

• Non-religious
• Reflective
• Triumphant
• Courage
• Celebration of life

Robert Frost, 1923

Four short lines on how the loveliest things pass. Good for a very short reflection.

• Non-religious
• Humanist
• Reflective
• Nature
• Remembrance

Non-religious words for the funeral of a child

Written with great care for the hardest of services. We will set it gently and simply.

• Humanist
• Non-religious
• Gentle
• Comforting
• Childhood
• Love
• Remembrance

Traditional

Almost always printed in full so that everyone can join in together.

• Christian
• Church of England
• Catholic
• Comforting
• Faith
• Peace

Traditional Catholic prayer

Printed so the whole congregation can pray it together at a Requiem Mass.

• Catholic
• Christian
• Irish
• Gentle
• Comforting
• Faith
• Peace

Traditional Catholic prayer

A very short committal prayer, often printed at the foot of the final page.

• Catholic
• Christian
• Gentle
• Peace
• Faith

Attributed to Mary Stevenson and others

The two sets of footprints becoming one. Widely loved, and gentle for a family of faith.

• Christian
• Comforting
• Faith
• Journey
• Hope

Mary Lee Hall (1907)

A charge to the living: carry on, and do some good in their name.

• Non-religious
• Humanist
• Christian
• Uplifting
• Comforting
• Celebration of life
• Courage
• Love

Non-religious words for a keen gardener

For a life spent outdoors — allotments, roses, hedges cut straight.

• Humanist
• Non-religious
• Gentle
• Uplifting
• Nature
• Celebration of life
• Remembrance

Anonymous, traditional

A short, calm farewell in the voice of the one who has gone.

• Non-religious
• Christian
• Comforting
• Gentle
• Peace
• Love
• Remembrance