When Someone Dies

When someone in your family dies, please contact St Augustine’s immediately, no matter what time of the day or night. The priest should be one of the very first people you think of calling. We will come and pray with you, commending the person who has died into God’s loving hands, and we will support you in any way we can.

When you talk with the funeral director about the funeral service, please do not arrange a date or time until you have talked to us first. Often the funeral director is happy to phone us when you go to visit him.

When someone dies, our community at St Augustine’s will want to support you with our prayers and our care. The priests and deacons will visit you, as will your area link person, and we have a Bereavement Support Group who will help you in any way they can. We will prepare the funeral service with you so that it is as personal as possible. The person who has died is included in the Bidding Prayers at all Masses for several Sundays.

The Funeral

For any Catholic who has died, the ideal service is a full Funeral Mass in the church, followed immediately by burial or cremation at Tunbridge Wells Cemetery or Crematorium. It is by far the best arrangement to have the Funeral Mass at 10.00 on a weekday morning, followed by the burial or cremation at 11.00. Our local funeral directors are used to organising things in this way. There are usually about 50 people at the 10.00 Mass, which means that the parish community is there to support the bereaved in their prayers and hymns. If for some reason the bereaved family think that Mass would be inappropriate, the priest or deacon will lead a funeral service at the chapel of the crematorium or cemetery. The body of the deceased person is usually received into the church at the beginning of the Requiem Mass, but we are very happy to welcome the body into the church the evening beforehand, with a short service of prayer.

Bereavement Support

The St Augustine’s Bereavement Support Group was formed to help you cope with your grief, and members try to respond to the needs of all bereaved people in our parish. When someone in your family dies, a member of the group will visit you within a fortnight of the funeral to express the care of the parish family, and to offer support, understanding and a listening ear.

All Souls

At all Masses on the Commemoration of All Souls on 2nd November, we remember our loved ones who have died and commend them to God. A Book of Remembrance is made available for people to write the names of their deceased relatives and friends. On the evening of All Souls Day (or on a day close to that date) we have a special service or Mass for the bereaved themselves, praying for God’s gifts of healing of mind and heart, and of peace.

Local Funeral Directors

All local funeral directors operate a 24-hour emergency service.

Kempster & Sons: 2-4 Albion Rd (tel. 523131)
Hickmott & Son: 41 Grove Hill Rd (tel. 522462 or 527812)
Boorman: 31 Mount Ephraim (tel. 541070)

Cruse Bereavement Care

A national organisation offering help to all bereaved people, no matter who they are or where they come from. The West Kent Branch at Tonbridge offers one to one counselling, and trained counsellors visit people in their own homes. A Bereavement Support Group meets in Tunbridge Wells. No charge is made, though donations are welcome. The office opens on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10.30 - 1.00. Phone 01732-353575.

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