From Saturday 8 August, it will become mandatory to wear a mask in a place of worship, along with cinemas, galleries and museums. (2)

At Singers for Funerals, we decided to do our own tests to determine if wearing a cloth face covering / face mask would in any way affect:

• our ability to sing 
• the clarity and volume of our voices

(We use the term ‘face mask’ to cover all kinds of face coverings that are neither a tied scarf nor medical grade PPE.) 

Lockdown changed the way funerals were held in the UK literally overnight. From major gathering of sometimes hundreds of people in a church, they became a distanced groups of just close family and friends, if at all. Even as the Church of England announces that churches have the choice to host funerals after Monday (15 June), they will still need to be safe and observe health guidance and social distancing. 

Funerals have changed beyond recognition since lockdown began. From large gatherings to celebrate a life with music and words, they have shrunk to just 10 or so close family members, sitting apart and unable to console each other. Some families can’t even attend in person, instead watching via a web video link as they sit in isolation at home.

​We’ve been singing at funerals for over a decade, and we’ve never seen anything like the current situation around COVID-19. We know the comfort and emotional release live singing brings to any funeral service, and we want to continue helping families by singing on throughout this current situation and beyond.

Many families ask for a choir to sing at a funeral because that’s what everyone has, isn’t it?

Not necessarily. A solo funeral singer (or duo) can be a better option. 

​Singing is a natural ‘fit’ for a funeral service. The sound of the human voice can be soothing and healing. It can bring comfort, joy and solace, and is especially effective as a fitting tribute to a departed loved one.