A SERVICE of dedication to the community was held at Waseley Hills Crematorium as the bereavement service marks one year since its official opening.
The service featured funeral directors, local celebrants and clergy alongside senior representatives from many organisations within the bereavement sector.
The crematorium’s operator, Westerleigh Group, have a tradition of dedicating their new crematoriums to the community they are based in to show support for bereaved families who use their services.
Among the leaders of the service were Reverend Phelim O’Hare, the Area Dean for Kings Norton, Moseley and Shirley in the Diocese of Birmingham, assisted by Reverend Chloe Hewitt, Curate at St Chads Church in Rubery, local celebrant Samantha Pitt and soloist Kevin Ward.
Reverend O’Hare spoke of the importance of families being able to mourn in beautiful and peaceful surroundings, such as those at Waseley Hills.
The congregation sang two hymns before Kevin Ward, accompanied by Steve Cowperthwaite, sang the Ave Verum before ending with a memorable version of Bridge Over Troubled Water, with the last verse adapted for the occasion.
Waseley Hills Crematorium Manager Joy Edgington said: “We’re very pleased to have hosted this special event and dedicated our beautiful crematorium to the community we serve.
“We are proud of how we have engaged with our bereaved families and local communities since we opened.
“We’re a welcoming place where people find comfort, not just on the day of their loved one’s final farewell but also at other times, to have a permanent place of remembrance for a loved one in our “memorial gardens or just have quiet moments of reflection in the fitting and peaceful environment of our beautiful grounds.
“We have helped provide many uniquely personal funeral services and will continue to assist families should they wish to have something a little different, in addition to accommodating those who prefer traditional funerals.”
