Anglican Funeral Order of Service in Ghana: Planning the Programme
By FuneralPress Editorial Team · 3 min read · Editorially reviewed 09/10/2026
The quick answer
Ask your Ghanaian Anglican parish for its authorised funeral order and confirm whether Holy Communion is included. Gather its approved readings, responses, hymns and committal details. Church of England material is a useful reference, not automatic authority for a Ghanaian diocese.
Begin with the officiating Anglican church
Before designing the booklet, ask for the approved running order and the exact wording the congregation wants printed. Confirm the service date, church address, minister’s name, language and burial arrangements. The family can prepare personal material while the church decides the worship order.
Use the book approved by your diocese
The Church of England publishes funeral forms with and without Eucharist. That source explains the distinction but is not a directive for Ghana. Ask the officiating priest which authorised texts, responses and rubrics apply, and whether the committal will be at the service venue or the burial ground.
Prepare the material the church needs
- An approved biography with names and dates checked by the family.
- Scripture references and the required translation, with readers assigned.
- Hymn titles, numbers where used, and versions agreed with the choir or organist.
- Tribute speakers and their approved time allowances.
- The church and cemetery locations, transport arrangements and public contact.
- Any family acknowledgements the church agrees to include.
A planning sequence for the booklet
- Obtain the church’s final order before arranging headings and pages.
- Enter the approved service sequence and participant names in the booklet editor.
- Place personal tributes where the service leader has agreed. Text can also be included for reading privately without a live speech.
- Send a proof to the minister and a separate proof to the family organiser for factual checks.
- Correct the proof, download the unlocked final design and ask the printer for a sample before the full run.
Keep church and graveside instructions distinct
If a committal takes place at another location, show that location and the agreed transition clearly. Do not invent prayers or responses to complete an empty section. The relevant minister supplies the wording and identifies which parts are said by the congregation. Make the booklet easy to follow with readable type and clear participant labels.
Proofread hymn numbers and reader names as carefully as the cover. A polished layout cannot correct the wrong song version or an unapproved service order. Keep one dated final file with the family organiser and printer so earlier drafts are not printed accidentally.
Common questions
Can I use a Church of England order in Ghana?
Ask the local priest which book and authorised texts the diocese uses. Do not assume every Common Worship option is approved for your service.
Does every Anglican funeral include Communion?
Confirm this with the priest before laying out the programme. A service with Eucharist requires a different sequence from one without it.
References and scope
- Church of England: funeral liturgy
A reference for Anglican liturgical structure in England, not an instruction issued by a Ghanaian diocese.
