Mothering Sunday at Westerleigh Cemetery & Crematorium
Westerleigh Group’s Westerleigh Cemetery & Crematorium, near Bristol, is opening the doors of its Woodland Chapel on Mother’s Day for people to take part in a Service of Remembrance.
The site will be opened to the community on Sunday, 27 March, between 10.30am and 12.30pm for families to gather, with the service starting at 11am.
For those unable to attend in person, a specially-recorded alternative service can be viewed on the Westerleigh Group’s YouTube channel.
Westerleigh Group is the UK’s largest owner and operator of crematoria and cemeteries, with 36 sites in England, Scotland, and Wales, all set within beautifully landscaped gardens of remembrance which provide pleasant, peaceful places for people to visit and reflect.
A Service of Remembrance is being recorded in advance at Waseley Hills Crematorium in the West Midlands, Westerleigh Group’s newest facility which only opened a few weeks ago for showing on YouTube for those who are unable, or feel uncomfortable, to attend a service in person.
The service is expected to last around 45 minutes and will include readings, music and poems.
Shaun Chapman-Young, Site Manager at Westerleigh Cemetery & Crematorium, said: “Mother’s Day can be a particularly poignant time for those who have lost their mum or cannot be together on this day.
“Due to the exceptional circumstances families have endured as result of the pandemic, and lockdown restrictions, we wanted to open up our chapel on Mother’s Day, in order to give families an opportunity to gather and remember their mum or mother figure while visiting our beautiful site.
“Some people will find it a great comfort to be able to come to us and watch our own service in the company of others or have a quiet moment of reflection in our chapel.
“But those who are not able, or who do not wish, to attend in person will not miss out, and can view the pre-recorded service online via YouTube, so that they can still honour their lost loved ones in a special way.”
The service will be provided in aid of Huntington’s Disease Association as Westerleigh Group’s corporate charity of the year.
They provide care and support services for people with Huntington’s disease living in England and Wales, educate families and professionals and champion people’s rights. You can support HDA’s work by donating here: www.justgiving.com/campaign/westerleighgroup
Cath Stanley, Chief Executive of the Huntington's Disease Association said: “We would like to thank the Westerleigh Group for choosing us as their charity of the year.
“We are delighted to be part of this year's Mother's Day service. Thank you to the member of Huntington's disease community who wrote the poem in honour of her Mum which will be shared during the service.
“If you would like to find out more about the work we do to support people with Huntington's disease in England and Wales please visit our website www.hda.org.uk.”
The Mother’s Day Service of Remembrance will take place on Sunday 27 March at 11am in the Westerleigh Crematorium’s Woodland chapel and the pre-recorded service will be shown via Westerleigh Group’s YouTube channel. YouTube details can be found by visiting the Events section and following the link.
