Funeral Order of Service

What is an order of service?

In the UK, the printed booklet handed to mourners at a funeral is usually called the order of service. It sets out each part of the ceremony – the music, readings, hymns and tributes – so that everyone can follow along, join in with the singing and know when to stand or sit. Afterwards, many people keep it as a treasured reminder of the day.

Our order of service template is built for UK funerals. Choose the A4 format and your booklet will fold neatly to A5, the size most crematoria, churches and funeral directors use. Your print-ready PDF includes bleed and crop marks for professional printers, plus a version sized exactly to A4 for home printing.

A typical order of service

A service at a crematorium is often limited to a 30–45 minute slot, so it helps to plan carefully. A common running order looks like this:

1. Entrance music – played as the coffin is carried in.
2. Welcome and introduction – by the minister or celebrant.
3. Hymn – such as "The Lord's My Shepherd," "Abide With Me," "All Things Bright and Beautiful" or "Jerusalem."
4. Reading – scripture or a poem.
5. Tribute or eulogy – by a family member, friend or the celebrant.
6. Prayers or a moment of reflection – often with music.
7. Committal – the formal farewell, when curtains may close around the coffin.
8. Closing words – thanks and any arrangements for afterwards.
9. Exit music – as mourners leave.

Load the "UK order of service" preset in the maker and adjust it to match what your minister or celebrant has planned. Humanist and civil celebrants often replace hymns with music and readings – simply rename the items.

What else to include

The back page is the place for practical and personal details: the committal or interment, where the wake or refreshments will be held, whether donations are being collected for a charity in place of flowers, and a thank-you from the family. Many families include a favourite poem such as "Death Is Nothing at All" by Henry Scott Holland or "Crossing the Bar" by Tennyson, both of which are in our library.

Printing in the UK

Most funeral directors can arrange printing, but printing it yourself or through a local print shop often costs less. Ask for A4 printed double-sided on 160–250 gsm silk or matt paper and folded to A5. If you're printing at home, choose "flip on short edge" and "actual size" in your printer settings.

Hymn words

If you'd like the words of hymns printed so people can sing along, add them to the order of service items or the back page. Traditional hymns such as "Abide With Me" and "The Lord's My Shepherd" are in the public domain; newer songs may be protected by copyright, so check with the venue, which usually holds a licence.

For more help, read our guide on what to include in a funeral program or explore the main funeral program template.

Timings and practicalities

Check how long your slot is with the crematorium or church before finalising the running order – over-running can mean the next family's service is delayed. Allow around three to five minutes for each tribute and four minutes for each hymn. If the service is being live-streamed for relatives abroad, add the streaming link to the back page.