GraveTalk - a cafe space to talk about death, dying, and funerals

for 2 hours
Clare, St Peter & St Paul
High Street Clare Suffolk, CO10 8NY, United Kingdom

It’s not easy to think about your own funeral. Talking about death, dying and funerals raises big questions that we need to face at some point, but it’s hard to talk to family and friends.

The Church of England has been helping people think about these questions for centuries.

GraveTalk is a café space, organised by your Parish church, where people can talk about these big questions. The conversation is helped along by GraveTalk conversation cards – 52 questions covering five key areas.

Join us as we gather to talk and share their thoughts about death, dying and funerals.

What happens at a GraveTalk event?

We meet in Clare Parish Church, where everyone will be welcomed by Revd Mark and then invited to sit at tables with three or four others.

The GraveTalk cards will be on the tables, and each group picks a question and uses it to start a conversation. It doesn’t matter if you only use one question, or work through all of them! The purpose is to talk and listen.

Light refreshments are offered throughout the event, which lasts about an hour, or longer if needed.

We will also be joined by representatives for local funeral directors who will be available to answer any questions about the practical aspects around what happens when someone dies.

The event is FREE and open to all.

More info

Clare, St Peter & St Paul

Is it a great ocean liner afloat on the skyline? No, it’s one of Suffolk’s great churches with ‘a small tower for a fo’c’sle and two turrets for masts’ as author Simon Jenkins once put it. This beautiful building dominates the north end of the town, reflecting the prosperity of Clare in the Middle Ages when the main trade was cloth-making.

What's special?

The exceptional height of nave and the huge aisle windows where the light streams in through the lavish arcades. 

Look out for the gallery of 15th century roof faces and try out the handsome private pews, one bearing the emblems of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.

The 18th century ringers’ gotch – that’s a beer jug. Beer was once the payment for the ringers. Clare’s ring of eight is said to be the heaviest in Suffolk.

How old is it?

The present church dates back to at least 13th century but after a visit by the image-breaker William Dowsing in 1643, the heraldic glass in the east window is all that is left of the 15th century glass that once might have filled the church.



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Get in touch

The Revd Mark Woodrow

The Vicarage
14 High Street
Clare
Suffolk

CO10 8NY
The Revd Mark Woodrow, Rector
01787 277515
The Revd Dr Karen Smith, Curate
07751932408

Our website

What's on

GraveTalk - a cafe space to talk about death, dying, and funerals

for 2 hours
Clare, St Peter & St Paul
High Street Clare Suffolk, CO10 8NY, United Kingdom

It’s not easy to think about your own funeral. Talking about death, dying and funerals raises big questions that we need to face at some point, but it’s hard to talk to family and friends.

The Church of England has been helping people think about these questions for centuries.

GraveTalk is a café space, organised by your Parish church, where people can talk about these big questions. The conversation is helped along by GraveTalk conversation cards – 52 questions covering five key areas.

Join us as we gather to talk and share their thoughts about death, dying and funerals.

What happens at a GraveTalk event?

We meet in Clare Parish Church, where everyone will be welcomed by Revd Mark and then invited to sit at tables with three or four others.

The GraveTalk cards will be on the tables, and each group picks a question and uses it to start a conversation. It doesn’t matter if you only use one question, or work through all of them! The purpose is to talk and listen.

Light refreshments are offered throughout the event, which lasts about an hour, or longer if needed.

We will also be joined by representatives for local funeral directors who will be available to answer any questions about the practical aspects around what happens when someone dies.

The event is FREE and open to all.

More info

Everyday faith

Discover how we can support you to find and follow God in your everyday life.

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Our Benefice

Safeguarding

Our Benefice is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults from harm.

We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Benefice Safeguarding Officer (BSO).

Our Diocese’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor who advises our BSO.

If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm please contact the BSO:
Mr Simon Cant Tel: 01284 789211 Email: [email protected]

or the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor:
Mrs Karen Galloway Tel: 07785 621319 Email: [email protected]

or you may speak with the Rector:
The Revd Mark Woodrow Tel: 01787 277515 Email: [email protected]

If you have immediate concerns about the safety of someone, please contact the police and your local authority’s children or adult social care services (Suffolk County Council – 0808 800 4005).

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