Are Funeral Services Changing?

If the experiences of Ken Gregory & Sons Ltd Funeral Directors of Mansfield, Kirkby In Ashfield and Sutton In Ashfield in the East Midlands of the UK are anything to go by then yes they are.

Relatives are now choosing a more celebratory style funeral service with and without religious context. Tradition has dictated “funeral practices and customs” in the UK and many can be dated back to the Victorian era. Dark lounge suites worn by both funeral staff and mourners and many local traditions such has having the deceased return to lie at home for a period of time before the funeral day and of course the family “wake”. The funeral ceremony would have been dictated by the faith of the Minister of a particular religion selected and timings of the funeral would have been dictated by their availability.

Now there are many different options for a funeral celebrant. The local Minister of the deceased’s faith , a none religious officiant, a Civil Celebrant an Interfaith Minister or even a family member or friend.

There has been resurgence in the use of the Horse Drawn Hearse, there is a Motorcycle Hearse and even lorries and fire engines.

There is now a wide range of coffins from traditional to cardboard, willow, bamboo and even colourful coffins that can more or less anything printed on them.


Ken Gregory & Sons Ltd staff on several occasions have been requested to wear pink ties with instructions to all mourners to wear bright clothing.

Music can also personalise a service with particular favourites of the deceased being played that can both raise a smile or cause floods of tears to be shed.

Have you thought about yours? Would you like to know what’s available? If so get in touch.

Peter