In the UK the printed booklet for a funeral is called the funeral order of service, or simply the order of service. It is usually small and simple, and guests take it home afterwards. This guide gives you a template to follow page by page, funeral order of service examples for church services, crematorium services and non-religious ceremonies, and wording you can copy.
Order of service for a funeral: a template, page by page
Most families choose a four-page or an eight-page booklet. Use these two templates as a starting point.
A four-page order of service
- Front cover. Photograph, name, dates, and the place, date and time of the service.
- Inside left. The first half of the running order, with the words of the first hymn.
- Inside right. The second half, with the second hymn and the committal.
- Back page. Thanks, donations, refreshments, and a second photograph if there is room.
An eight-page order of service booklet
- Front cover.
- Welcome and first hymn. Entrance music, the welcome, and the hymn words.
- Reading. Printed in full, with the reader's name.
- Eulogy or tribute, and second hymn.
- Prayers, committal and blessing. With the exit music.
- Photographs. A page of pictures from across the years.
- A poem, or a short written tribute.
- Back page.
Size, pages and the front cover
Most orders of service are A5 booklets. Four, eight or twelve pages are the common lengths.
- Four pages suit a short service with one or two hymns.
- Eight pages give room for hymn words, a reading printed in full and a page of photographs.
- Twelve pages suit a longer church service, or a family who want more photographs and a written tribute.
Booklets are made from folded sheets, so the page count goes up in fours. If you have a page to spare, a photograph or a short poem fills it well.
The cover is simple. It carries a photograph, the full name, the dates of birth and death, and the place, date and time of the service. Common headings include "In loving memory of", "A celebration of the life of" and "A service of thanksgiving for the life of". Choose the one that matches the tone the family wants.
Sample wording for the front cover
In loving memory of
(FULL NAME)
(date of birth) to (date of death)(Church or crematorium, with town)
(Day, date), at (time)
Sample cover wording for a celebration of life
A celebration of the life of
(FULL NAME)
known to all as (name)
(year of birth) to (year of death)(Place), (day, date), at (time)
The running order
The inside pages list what happens, in order. A typical service runs like this:
- Entrance music
- Welcome
- First hymn, with the words
- Reading, with the reader's name
- Eulogy or tribute, with the speaker's name
- Second hymn, or a piece of music
- Prayers, or a time of reflection
- Committal
- Blessing or closing words
- Exit music
Print the title of each piece of music. Print the hymn words in full, so that everyone can sing. For readings, you can print the full text, or only the title and the reader. Poems such as "Death Is Nothing at All" and "Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep" are often chosen.
A crematorium service has a fixed time slot. Ask your funeral director how long you have, and plan the number of hymns and speakers to fit. If the service is in church and the committal follows at a crematorium or cemetery, say so in the booklet, and say whether guests are invited to both.
The minister or celebrant leading the service has the final say on the order. Send them the draft before printing. To see how services differ, look at orders of service by church, and browse funeral hymns if you are still choosing.
Funeral order of service examples
Replace the words in brackets with your own details. These are starting points, not fixed forms.
Example order of service for a church funeral
Entrance music: (title)
Welcome and opening prayer: (name of the minister)
Hymn: (title, with the words)
Reading: (book, chapter and verses), read by (name)
Eulogy: (name)
Hymn: (title, with the words)
Address: (name of the minister)
Prayers, and the Lord's Prayer
Commendation and farewell
Blessing
Exit music: (title)The committal follows at (crematorium or cemetery).
Example order of service for a crematorium funeral
Entrance music: (title)
Welcome: (name of the minister or celebrant)
Hymn: (title, with the words)
Reading: (title), read by (name)
Tribute: (name)
A time of reflection, with music: (title)
Prayers
Committal
Closing words
Exit music: (title)
Example order of ceremony for a non-religious funeral
Entrance music: (title)
Words of welcome: (name of the celebrant)
Poem: (title), read by (name)
The tribute: the story of (name)'s life
Memories: (names of family and friends)
A time of quiet reflection, with music: (title)
The committal
Closing words
Exit music: (title)
Example order of service for a Catholic Requiem Mass
Entrance hymn: (title)
Greeting and opening prayer
First reading: (reference), read by (name)
Responsorial psalm: (psalm and response)
Second reading: (reference), read by (name)
Gospel: (reference)
Homily
Prayers of the faithful: read by (names)
Offertory hymn: (title)
Communion hymn: (title)
Final commendation
Recessional hymn: (title)
The parish priest will give you the correct order and the choice of readings. See Catholic funeral Mass readings.
Wording for notes inside the booklet
Short notes help guests who do not know the service or the building.
Notes for guests
Please stand as the coffin enters.
All are welcome to join in the hymns. The words are printed in full.
The family will leave first. Please follow when the usher invites you.
When the committal is somewhere else
Following the service, the committal will take place at (crematorium or cemetery), for (family only, all who wish to attend).
Everyone is warmly invited to join the family afterwards at (place, with address).
Hymns and readings for a funeral order of service
Well-known hymns help, because many guests do not sing often. Abide with Me, The Lord's My Shepherd and Amazing Grace are often chosen, and our pages give the words. For more, see the guide to funeral hymns.
For a Bible reading, see Bible verses for funerals. Give each reader a printed copy of their reading, in large type, as well as the booklet.
Non-religious ceremonies
Non-religious funerals are common in the UK. A humanist ceremony is led by a celebrant, and the booklet is headed "Order of ceremony". There are no prayers. In their place you will usually find:
- Music chosen by the family
- Words of welcome
- Poems or readings
- The tribute, which tells the story of the person's life
- Shorter memories from family and friends
- A time of quiet reflection, often with music
- The committal and closing words
Some families want a ceremony that is mostly non-religious but includes a hymn or a prayer. Ask the celebrant at the start whether they can offer this.
Catholic funerals and the Mass booklet
For a Catholic Requiem Mass the booklet follows the order of the Mass. It gives the readings, the psalm, the prayers of the faithful and the hymns, with the names of the readers.
In Ireland this is known as the Mass booklet, and many parishes do not allow a eulogy during Mass. Where that is so, ask the priest whether a family member may speak at another point, at the graveside, or at the gathering afterwards. Practice varies from parish to parish, so ask before you plan any words of remembrance.
The back page
The back page carries the practical notes.
- Thanks. A short message from the family, thanking everyone for coming and for their kindness.
- Donations. If the family would like donations to a charity in place of flowers, name the charity and say how to give.
- Refreshments. Where everyone is invited afterwards, with the address.
- Credits. The name of the funeral director if you wish, and any acknowledgement needed for hymns or poems.
Sample wording for the back page
The family of (name) thank you for being here today, and for your kindness, cards and messages over these past weeks.
Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, may be made to (charity) through (the funeral director, a collection as you leave).
Please join us afterwards for refreshments at (place, with address).
A shorter thank-you
(Names of the family) would like to thank you for your love and support, and for joining us today to remember (name).
Many older hymns are out of copyright. Newer hymns, songs and poems may not be. The church office or your funeral director can tell you whether permission is needed to print the words.
Design tips for an order of service booklet
- One clear photograph on the cover. Choose one in which the person looks like themselves, with the face well lit.
- The name is the largest thing on the cover. Dates sit just below it.
- Plain type, large enough for older eyes. Use no more than two typefaces.
- Dark text on a light background. Text printed over a photograph is hard to read.
- Keep each hymn on one page, so that no one turns a page while singing.
- Names beside each item. Reader, speaker, singer.
For paper, colour and the number of copies, see funeral programme size and printing.
Before you print
- Ask two family members to proofread names and dates.
- Check each reader's and speaker's name with the person concerned.
- Confirm the final order, readings and hymns with the minister or celebrant.
- Think about how many guests you expect, and print a few extra copies for those who cannot attend.
- Allow time for printing and delivery, and ask for a proof first.
- If people are watching online, send them a copy as a PDF so that they can follow.
For a fuller list of optional pages, see what goes in a funeral programme. If you are writing the eulogy, our guide to writing a life story will help, and how to write a tribute gives a simple structure for a shorter piece. For the death notice, see funeral announcement wording.
Questions people ask
What should be included in a funeral order of service?
The cover has a photograph, the full name, the dates, and the place, date and time of the service. Inside is the running order, with the hymn words and the names of readers and speakers. The back page has the family's thanks, and details of donations and refreshments.
How many pages should a funeral order of service be?
Four, eight or twelve pages are the common lengths. Four pages suit a short service with one or two hymns. The page count goes up in fours, because the booklet is made from folded sheets.
Is an order of service the same as a funeral programme?
Yes. It is the same booklet under a different name. "Order of service" is the usual name in the UK, and a non-religious ceremony often uses "Order of ceremony".
Do you print the hymn words in the order of service?
Yes, print them in full if guests will sing. For music that is only played, the title is enough. Ask the church office or your funeral director whether a newer hymn needs permission to print.
Who writes the funeral order of service?
The family usually puts it together, with help from the funeral director. The minister or celebrant leading the service has the final say on the order, so send them the draft before printing.
What is the difference between an order of service and a eulogy?
The order of service is the printed booklet that lists everything in the service. The eulogy is one spoken item within it, a speech about the person's life. The booklet names the speaker.
Make the programme with Homegoing
Homegoing is a website that makes an order of service on your phone or computer, for Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal and non-religious ceremonies. Every line can be changed to match what your minister or celebrant has agreed. You get a print-ready A5 booklet, and a phone version to send to those who cannot be there. Start a programme