A full RC funeral Mass usually lasts between 60 – 90 minutes, depending on how many present take communion, etc. Catholic funeral services can be shorter and not include a full mass, especially if the family need to move on to a cremation or burial on the same day. Check with your priest how long the service might be, so you can plan in time for your favourite music, readings, and eulogies.

The Catholic church has some truly wonderful hymns to choose from – the Laudate hymnbook lists over 900! Favourite Catholic hymns include:

• Soul of my saviour
• Here I am Lord
• Make me a channel of your peace
• I watch the sunrise

You can discover more top hymns with accompanying sound files in our Catholic hymns for funerals articles.

As the Diocese of Portsmouth funeral guidance says:

“The use of music in the various stages of the funeral is important, and carefully selected hymns and music will enhance the service, bring back memories of a loved one and provide consolation for the bereaved.”

However, that doesn’t mean you can have any music or songs you like. Your priest will need to approve your family’s choice of music, and check that it is in line with the Church’s faith. That usually means only religious music before the mass, and ‘suitable’ non-religious music afterwards, but every priest has their own views.

Yes we can. What’s more, if you are moving on to a crematorium or graveside burial, you can have a much wider choice of music. We are happy to sing at both mass and cremation or internment if you wish if they are on the same day.

In a word, NO! We always love to sing with an organist, but if you are not expecting a large congregation, or are not planning on any congregational singing, then you won’t need an organist. Instead, we bring our own discreet backing tracks system to accompany us as solo singers, and in smaller spaces, for you to sing along to as a congregation. See our articles on Catholic funerals for more details on timings and opportunities for music.

During Lent, some churches may choose not to have any music in the services at all, including funerals. Some priests allow it, but in general it will need to be more subdued than at other times of year. We have years of experience in helping you choose music that most priests would consider suitable – see our blog on “Catholic funerals during Lent” for more details.

Since every Catholic funeral is slightly different, we give you a personalised, bespoke price that covers everything:

• Talking through your ideas and suggesting music ideas.
• Pre-funeral preparation including liaising with your priest, funeral director and organist
• Travel to and from your funeral church, crematorium and/or burial, and associated charges such as the London congestion and ULEZ zone charges
• Learning new music and preparing backing tracks
• All music sung – we don’t charge by the item!

Budget for around £200 for one soloist for a funeral in the Hampshire and Surrey, which includes funerals in Southampton, Winchester, Guildford, Newbury, Basingstoke, and of course our home town of Farnborough Hampshire.

Generally we sing at funerals within a 60 mile radius of our home town of Farnborough Hampshire. So that covers Hampshire, Surrey, East Berkshire, West Sussex and western Greater London. We frequently sing in Southampton and surrounding areas thanks to good links via the M3, as well as across London (via train and Tube). We can travel further on request, (and have done many times) but do be aware that our travel costs will need to increase accordingly.