Funerals and memorials at St Andrew with St Alban in the Parish of Mottingham
Your parish churches and ministers are there to:
- offer you pastoral care and support in difficult times of grief
- find appropriate ways to honour and celebrate the lives of loved ones who have crossed the threshhold
- commend their souls to God's love and care
Post Mortem
A poem submitted by Revd Anne Hoad and written by her friend's uncle, Tom Hicks, whose wife is dying from a terminal illness.
When flesh and blood have sped their time
And loosed my spirit to the skies
To realms unknow, supreme, sublime
Whre God is love and love the prize
Rejoice! rejoice! And do not grieve
Nor mourn my passing as I leave
The years we shared, the love we knew
The bonds we hoped would never break
Still hold their worth for me and you
Still valued for each others sake
Rejoice! rejoice! And do not grieve
Nor mourn my passing as I leave
Pursue your course with ardent joy
With those you love and still can see
And know as time you thus employ
Nought more than this can pleasure me
Rejoice! rejoice! And do not grieve
Nor mourn my passing as I leave.
Elsie Louisa Hudson
At the age of 104, Elsie passed away on 6 March 2020. A longstanding (50 years) and dedicated member of the congregation, her funeral service was due to take place at St Andrew's Church on 24 March 2020. Sadly, this was unable to go ahead, because of the restrictions in place caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. The cremation at Hither Green Crematorium was attended by Elsie's children Diane and Michael, together with Michael's wife, Katherine. The introduction, welcome and eulogy for Elsie's funeral were given by Revd Ian Welch, Rector, St Andrew with St Alban, copy of which can be viewed below (pdf). A memorial service for Elsie will be held at St Andrew's Church when church services are permitted again and the situation has returned to 'normality'.
