Shrewsbury meetings help deal with a grave topic
The fear of death is universal – and nobody likes to talk about it.
But churches in Shropshire are encouraging people to do just that by making the subject less of a taboo.
Dozens have joined a new Church of England scheme which encourages people to discuss all aspects of death, from what happens when we die to the practicalities of organising funeral arrangements.
It is part of a project called GraveTalk, and according to organisers in Shrewsbury it is helping people to face up to the inevitable.
Church minister Valerie Pitt said GraveTalk sessions were proving valuable at Holy Trinity Church in Meole Brace, Christ the King in Radbrook and the Church in the Meet Place on the Meole Estate.
Clergy involved in the project include the Rev Phil Cansdale, of Holy Trinity.
The Rev Pitt said: "Our experience is that many people find talking to family and friends about these things really hard and yet often there are important or really practical questions that people want to explore before it's too late.
"We hope that GraveTalk will be a place where they can do this without any pressure or embarrassment. Thirty people came along to the last chat, and we got a discussion going."
Minister Pitt said she believed the way people treat death has changed over the years.
She said: "During World Wars One and Two, for example, so many people died that people dealt with death all the time.
"Now it has become a big taboo, but it need not be like that if you just talk about it."
People of all ages came along to the GraveTalk session at Holy Trinity last month, and Minister Pitt believes people are now wanting to discuss their own funeral wishes.
She said: "It's a very sensitive thing and there were a few tears, but there was also laughter.
"It's a chance to ask questions and people really value that. We took the pressure off with a tea party. It was a great experience."
GraveTalk is funded by the Archbishops' Council, which hopes Shropshire will provide an example for other churches around the country.
The Rev David Primrose, Director of Transforming Communities for Lichfield Diocese, which covers Shropshire, said: "Churches are well-placed to host open conversations for people to explore the deeper questions of life and death.
"I am delighted that parishes in the Diocese of Lichfield are involved in piloting GraveTalk, and I am confident that in the coming years, many more churches will use this way to enable people in their community to talk freely about death, dying and funerals with sensitivity, understanding and confidence."
Trinity Churches will be running their second GraveTalk session on February 27.
It will run from 6pm till 7.30pm in the Bradbury Hall, The Trinity Centre. Meole Brace, Shrewsbury. For more information visit www.churchofengland.org
