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

Stoke by Clare, St John the Baptist

Set back from Tudor houses in the historic village street, this is a lovely medieval building with castellated tower, nave and aisles and the Elwes Chapel on the north side.

What's special?

Rare wall painting uncovered in 1948, thought to have been a reredos for the south aisle altar but covered up by the Ten Commandments in the Reformation. It features Christ on a rainbow with God above, St Peter with his keys led by the Virgin Mary, and the Seven Deadly Sins including Gula the drunkard escorting the souls of the damned into the jaws of hell. The hairstyles are late medieval Flemish.

How old is it?

Between 1124 and 1415, the church was part of a Benedictine Monastery. The monks were responsible for Stoke College and for diverting the River Stour to its present course. This would have been the priory church with no pews in the nave. The tower up to the clock is 13th century, the rest 15th and 16th century.

Famous connections

Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury 1559-75, began his career here. He was the last Dean of the College of Secular Priests at Stoke by Clare before the Reformation and took charge of Elizabeth I on the death of her mother Anne Boleyn. The Pulpit is ‘traditionally known as Matthew Parker’s Pulpit, although it dates right back to the 1400s and is one of the smallest in England – only 20 inches diameter!

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Get in touch

The Revd Mark Woodrow

The Vicarage
14 High Street
Clare

CO10 8NY
Rector
01787 277515
Tom McKenny PCC Secretary
01787 277654

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.

Find out more
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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