and seeing the sites, he also met with the Bishop and attended our monthly Vestry meeting. I invited him to address the Vestry, and we all found it most interesting. The sheer size of the Church of England makes for a different ministry. Fr David has 180 churches and 170 clergy to look after! He had some encouraging things to say to us about our parish and our place in the wider church.

Fr David has promised to entertain those of us going in pilgrimage to Walsingham next year - an English tea party, perhaps? So, we shall be adding that to our itinerary.

FUNERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Amongst the parish files and stationery in the office are a parish FUNERAL INSTRUCTIONS form, and a booklet concerning christian death and funerals, and our parish practices. I have been planning to revise both of these to reflect the current practice at All Saints'.
Recently I finished a new Funeral Instructions form, and copies are available from me. I am now in the process of revising the parish booklet. This will be available before Christmas. Copies of the service book we use for a Requiem Mass at All Saints' are also available.
I am always happy to discuss such matters with parishioners and encourage you to make sure your funeral instructions are up to date, and kept in a convenient place. I have encountered occasional instances in my 26 years as a priest where the family was not sympathetic to the church and difficulties arose about a church funeral.
THE LAST THINGS
Discussing funerals may seem a bit morbid - but it ought