Anglican funeral as a guest
What to expect at an Anglican or Episcopal funeral celebrated according to the Burial Office of the Book of Common Prayer.
01 Before the day
An Anglican or Episcopal funeral is celebrated according to the Burial Office of the Book of Common Prayer. The TEC service uses the 1979 BCP; the ACNA service uses the 2019 BCP. The rite may be celebrated with the Holy Eucharist (a Requiem Eucharist, the fuller form) or as a Burial Office without Communion (the shorter form). The family or the funeral notice will indicate which form a particular funeral takes.
02 Attire
Dark formal dress is traditional: a dark suit and tie for men; a dark dress or suit for women. Black is most common; navy, charcoal, or dark gray are acceptable.
03 At the service
Guests typically arrive 15 minutes before the start. The casket or urn is present at the front of the church; the family is seated in the front pews. The service follows the BCP Burial Office: opening anthems and prayers, scripture readings (commonly from the BCP's suggested list, including Psalm 23, John 14, 1 Corinthians 15, and Revelation 21), the homily, prayers for the deceased and the bereaved, the Commendation, and (where applicable) the dismissal to the Committal.
Where the rite is a Requiem Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Eucharist follows. Most TEC and many ACNA parishes practice open communion, inviting all baptized Christians to the altar. Non-Christian guests may remain in the pew or come forward with arms crossed for a blessing.
04 After the service
The casket is processed out of the church to the hearse, which leads the procession to the cemetery. The Committal at the graveside is normally brief; immediate family is typically present.
A reception often follows the service, hosted by the family or by the parish (a coffee hour at the church, a meal at the family home, or a gathering at a restaurant). The reception is a less formal setting for offering condolences than the service itself.
Last reviewed against primary sources: May 17, 2026