All loss articles
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Opinion
Sam Fender is praying he’ll see his loved ones again. So am I
Sam Fender’s third album, People Watching, sees the “Geordie Bruce Springsteen” asking big questions of himself, society and God. But when it comes to the loss of loved ones, Max Avard says he’s praying Fender also finds the hope in Jesus that held him fast through grief
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Opinion
Does God care who wins and loses?
Does God care who wins in sports? Jonny Reid believes the answer is yes, though maybe not for the reasons you’d expect
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Opinion
Half of people no longer want a funeral. It’s a worrying trend
Less than half of people want a funeral when they die according to the latest research. But in moving away from looking death in the face, we may be hindering our long-term healing, says Yvonne Tulloch
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Magazine Features
God, grief and a month on the farm
When Miranda Adderley was told that her unborn grandson was unlikely to survive outside the womb, she organised a countryside retreat for her family. Together, they processed their grief in the beauty of nature, and slowly learned to see the goodness of God again
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Opinion
I’m a Christian. How can I best love my friends who have lost a baby?
When a baby dies, it causes pain in so many ways. Dan Martin and his wife, Anna, lost their son, Jed, when he was just three weeks old. He explains how the Church can help those who are bereaved
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Opinion
It’s now possible to attend your own funeral…but should you?
What does it means to commemorate a life of someone who is still alive – and is it healthy for those who are dying, or those left behind? As Dawn French reprises her Vicar of Dibley character as part of a 'living funeral' at Truro Cathedral, and some speak of putting the “fun” back in “funerals”, Yvonne Tulloch explores the ethical questions
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Opinion
Why hymns at funerals are making a comeback
Two hymns made it into this year’s top ten list of songs played at funerals – for the first time in seven years. Rev Cassius Francis reflects on the resurgence of religious songs, and what our music choices can mean at such a difficult time
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Opinion
The Bible doesn’t gloss over grief, and neither should we
When Amanda Held Opelt suffered a season of loss - including three miscarriages and the death of her sister, Rachel Held Evans - she was confronted with sorrow she didn’t know to how face. Why do so many Christians insist on an immediate, redemptive story arc when they experience suffering?
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Opinion
Official mourning for the Queen is over, but her family still need our prayers
When the funeral finishes, the toughest part of the bereavement journey is often only just starting. Here’s how churches can support those struggling with grief
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Opinion
Why it's healthy to look at the Queen’s coffin
It’s not strange to want to see a coffin; interacting with death physically is important, explains Lord Leslie Griffiths
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Opinion
Rob Parsons OBE: My meetings with the Queen
The founder of Care for the Family recalls his meetings with the late monarch
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Opinion
Tears and Celebrations: Katherine Jenkins' new hymn of remembrance following the Queen's death
Christian songwriter Andy Flannagan explains how, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, he pulled together a team to produce a new hymn of remembrance, assurance, and thanksgiving
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Opinion
Our nation is experiencing widespread grief, loss and ‘death denial’. Here’s how the Church can help
The Queen’s death comes during turbulent times and hard on the heels of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the Church can help society heal, says Rev Canon Yvonne Richmond-Tulloch
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Real Life
Like Ronaldo, I lost a son. At first I wanted to scream at God. But now my faith is stronger
When Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez announced the death of their baby, it brought back memories for Ian O’Reilly, whose own son, Tristan, died days after being born at Shrewsbury Hospital. 22 years later, his faith has been tested and refined by his grief, but is stronger for it
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Opinion
Why our church has created a Garden of Lament
Rev Caroline Taylor from St John’s Hoxton explains why the oft-forgotten practice of lament is so important