John Smith, a Funeral Director representing Dignity Funerals Ltd, recently presented a cheque for £1,000 to the Bishop of Woolwich, The Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, to help support the Woolwich Area Funerals Project. The Project aims to provide a reliable point of contact for funerals so that if a Funeral Director cannot contact the parish priest directly the Funerals Liaison Officer will ensure that an alternative member of the clergy is found.

The project began as a two year pilot scheme in 2004 in East and West Lewisham and Deptford Deaneries and the donation from Dignity will help to ensure that the Project can continue and expand into the rest of the Woolwich Episcopal Area which includes the three London Boroughs of Southwark, Lewisham and Greenwich.

John Smith, was accompanied by Emma Sparre-Slater, Dignity’s Community Business Manager and The Archdeacon of Lewisham, the Venerable Christine Hardman accompanied the Bishop of Woolwich. Emma Sparre-Slater and Christine Hardman had been much involved in ensuring the success of the pilot project.

John Smith, in presenting the cheque said, ‘We are delighted to be able to assist Southwark Diocese in expanding this exciting project which helps us to ensure that we can offer the best possible service to those who come to us.’

Bishop Christopher said, ‘We are pleased, with the support of Dignity, to extend this very valuable project which will help to ensure that bereaved families receive the love and comfort of God in a practical way.’

Ends.