Training
Our Funeral Ministry training course is designed to build understanding, skills and confidence in this ministry, in order to:
- equip Readers who are recommended by their Oversight Minister/PCC to explore the possibility of leading funerals as a new aspect of their ongoing ministry
- open up funeral training for selected lay ministers, recommended by their Oversight Minister/PCC, for whom funeral ministry will be a specialised ministry
- provide a refresher for any clergy who would value it.
Duration – 9 months
Schedule – October to June
Delivery – Hybrid
Cost – £200
Location – Church House, Rotherham and Zoom
Next course starts – October 2026
We are currently working on course dates for 2026/27 if you would like to be kept updated please register your interest by emailing Rachael Williams at layministry@sheffield.anglican.org
How to apply
In order to enrol you will require a reference from your Oversight Minister/Incumbent, who will also be supervising you throughout the course and beyond. Closing date for applications Friday 24 July 2026.
Application form coming soon.
Licensing
If you do not already hold a Bishop’s licence, then on successful completion of the course you can be licensed at the Celebration of Lay Ministries service in September.
If you are a licensed Reader, then on successful completion of the course you will be added to the list of Readers who are authorised to take funerals.
You need to renew your licence every 5 years. Please use the form below. It needs to be signed by your PCC, Incumbent and Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO).
Reviews, Support, Ongoing Ministerial Development
Every three years you have the opportunity to review your ministry with someone else who takes funerals.
Support for your ministry will primarily be provided locally by your Oversight Minister/Incumbent and you can also contact the lay ministries team for further support at layministry@sheffield.anglican.org.
You will be added to our lay ministry mailing list to receive information about all of our lay learning events throughout the year.
We also have some Ongoing ministerial development pages for lay ministers they can be found here. (Link to lay min OMD top page)