Religious Funeral Order of Service Templates: A Complete Guide

When a funeral has a strong faith element, the order of service often feels especially important. It doesn’t just guide people through the practical parts of the ceremony – it reflects the beliefs, hope and comfort that faith can bring.

Religious funeral order of service templates are designed to make this part of planning simpler and more meaningful. They give you a ready‑made structure that respects tradition, while still leaving plenty of room for your own wording, photos and favourite scriptures.

In this guide, we’ll look at:

• What religious funeral templates are
• The main types we see families choosing
• The meaning behind common Christian symbols
• How to choose the right design for your denomination and family
• Step‑by‑step tips for customising a religious template
• Example orders of service for different styles of Christian funerals
• Frequently asked questions

When you feel ready to start, you can browse and customise designs on our main templates page:
Free funeral order of service templates – easily customisable.

What Are Religious Funeral Order of Service Templates?

A religious funeral order of service template is a pre‑designed booklet layout created specifically for faith‑based funerals and memorials. The design and structure support typical elements of a religious service, such as:

• Hymns or worship songs
• Bible readings or other sacred texts
• Prayers and blessings
• The sermon or homily
• Committal words and closing prayers

Instead of starting from a blank page, you begin with a layout that already includes:

• A cover with space for a photo, name and life dates
• Pages set out for hymns, readings and prayers
• Headings that follow a natural flow for a church or chapel service
• Religious artwork or symbols, such as crosses or doves

From there, you simply replace the placeholder text with your own details and personalise the design to match your loved one and your church tradition.

If you’re completely new to this, you may also find our broader guide helpful:
How to write a funeral order of service.

And when your design is ready, you can have it professionally printed with free UK delivery via:
Funeral Order of Service Printing UK – Next Day Delivery.

Types of Religious Funeral Templates We Offer

While every Christian tradition is slightly different, there are some clear groups of religious templates that families commonly choose. Here’s how they tend to break down, and when each might be most appropriate.

1. Church of England and General Christian Templates

These designs suit many Protestant and Anglican funerals, including Church of England, Methodist, Baptist and United Reformed services.

Common features:

• Simple crosses, church windows or subtle stained‑glass motifs
• Calm colours such as navy, burgundy, cream and dark green
• Space for 2–4 hymns and multiple Bible readings
• A layout that follows a typical church funeral: welcome, hymns, readings, address, prayers, committal, blessing

These are a good choice if:

• Your loved one attended a traditional church
• The service is being held in a church, chapel or crematorium with a Christian minister
• You want something clearly Christian but not tied to a very specific liturgy

You’ll find many of these designs under our general templates collection here:
Free funeral order of service templates.

2. Catholic Funeral and Requiem Mass Templates

Catholic funerals and requiem Masses often follow a more formal, structured liturgy, so the template needs to reflect that.

Typical elements include:

• The Introductory Rites
• Liturgy of the Word (readings, psalm, Gospel, homily)
• Prayers of the Faithful
• Liturgy of the Eucharist
• Final Commendation and Farewell

Catholic‑friendly templates may feature:

• Crucifixes, rosaries, chalice or host symbols
• Saints, angels or Marian imagery (used tastefully)
• More traditional typography and layouts

These designs work well if:

• The funeral is a full Mass led by a Catholic priest
• The parish has suggested a particular structure you need to follow
• You want space for specific prayers such as the Hail Mary or traditional litanies

You can easily adapt any classic or religious design for Catholic wording, or request a custom layout via your Free custom funeral template request section on the templates page (link to that anchor/section).

3. Non‑Denominational and Evangelical Christian Templates

Some services are Christian in tone and content, but less tied to a formal liturgy. This might include:

• Evangelical church funerals
• Free churches and independent fellowships
• Services led by a Christian celebrant at a crematorium

For these, families often choose:

• Modern or minimal designs with simple crosses or doves
• Space for contemporary worship songs and personal tributes
• Flexible page layouts rather than a strict set form

These templates can include Bible verses and prayers, but still feel fresh and approachable for guests who may not attend church regularly.

4. Softly Spiritual and Symbolic Templates

Not every family wants very overt religious imagery, even if there is a spiritual element to the service. Softly spiritual designs may use:

• Doves, light rays, sunsets or skies
• Gentle floral motifs like lilies or roses
• Watercolour backgrounds that suggest peace and hope

These are often chosen when:

• Faith was important to the person, but the family want a gentle, inclusive feel
• There is a mix of religious and non‑religious guests
• The focus is on comfort and remembrance rather than doctrinal detail

You’ll find many of these under both the Floral and Nature styles on the template page:
Browse floral and nature‑themed funeral templates.

5. Multi‑Faith and Custom Religious Designs

If you need a design that reflects:

• Two Christian traditions
• A Christian and another faith background in the same family
• A particular cultural style (for example Caribbean Christian services, Eastern European icons, etc.)

the easiest route is often a custom template. You can describe what you need on the request form, for example:

“Simple cross and Bible on the cover, but with Jamaican flag colours in the flowers,”
or
“Icon‑style artwork with candles and a traditional Orthodox feel.”

Our team can then create a bespoke template for you to edit online, or we can complete the full design through our Design it for Me service.

The Meaning Behind Common Christian Symbols

When you browse religious templates, you’ll notice certain symbols appearing again and again. Understanding their meaning can help you choose something that fits your loved one’s faith and personality.

Cross

The cross is the central symbol of the Christian faith, representing:

• Christ’s sacrifice
• Forgiveness and redemption
• Hope of resurrection

Bold crosses make a clear statement of faith, while smaller or more decorative crosses provide a gentler nod to belief.

Dove

The dove traditionally symbolises:

• The Holy Spirit
• Peace and comfort
• The soul being at rest

Dove imagery is often chosen when families want something hopeful and gentle without lots of heavy symbolism.

Light, Candles and Sunrays

Light in Christian imagery suggests:

• Christ as the “light of the world”
• Guidance through darkness
• The hope of eternal life

Templates with candles, lanterns or sunrays through clouds are often used for services that emphasise comfort and hope.

Lilies and White Flowers

Lilies and white flowers commonly represent:

• Purity
• New life
• The resurrection

They are particularly popular for Easter‑season funerals or for those who loved their garden or nature.

Bible, Rosary or Church Window

These elements tie the design more closely to:

• Scripture as a source of comfort
• Catholic devotion (in the case of rosaries)
• The physical church community (through windows, pews, altars)

If your loved one was very involved in church life, these details can feel especially fitting.

How to Choose the Right Religious Template

When you’re scrolling through dozens of designs, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are some simple questions to guide your choice.

1. Which denomination or tradition is the service in?

• Church of England / Anglican / Methodist / Baptist:
  Choose classic Christian designs with crosses, hymns and Bible verse space.
• Catholic:
  Look for more traditional designs or request a layout that fits the Order of Mass.
• Non‑denominational or evangelical:
  Modern or minimal Christian designs often feel more natural.

If you’re unsure, ask the minister, priest or celebrant whether they have any preferences or examples.

2. How “religious” do you want the design to look?

Some families want a very clear expression of faith; others prefer something more understated.

• Strongly religious:
  Prominent cross, scripture on the cover, church or Bible imagery.
• Gentle spiritual:
  Doves, skies, soft nature scenes, a quiet Bible verse on the inside pages.
• Mixed guests:
  Nature/floral designs with optional religious wording inside can feel inclusive.

3. What tone are you aiming for?

• Formal and traditional – classic fonts, borders, muted colours.
• Warm and personal – floral or photo‑rich designs, friendly wording.
• Celebration of life – brighter colours, hobby themes, joyful imagery.

Your template doesn’t have to be sombre to be respectful; it just needs to feel authentic to your loved one and the service.

4. How much content do you need to include?

If you have:

• Several hymns and long readings – choose a layout with generous text space.
• Only one hymn and a short reading – a simpler template with fewer pages may be enough.
• Many photos – select a design with photo collages or full‑width images.

If you’re unsure how many pages you’ll need, our Funeral order of service printing page has clear options for 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20‑page booklets.

Step‑by‑Step: Customising a Religious Template

Once you’ve chosen a design, turning it into a finished funeral order of service is straightforward.

Step 1: Confirm the Order of Service with Your Officiant

Before you start editing, speak with:

• The vicar, priest or minister
• Your funeral director
• Or your celebrant

Confirm:

• Which hymns and readings will be used
• Who is speaking and in what order
• Any special prayers or responses to include

This avoids needing to redo the layout later.

For more help on structure, see your main guide:
Funeral Order Of Service Examples & Ideas.

Step 2: Open the Template in the Online Editor

On the main templates page, choose a design and click Customise. The layout will open in your browser with:

• Sample headings
• Placeholder
• Image spaces

Take a moment to familiarise yourself with the pages and tools.

Step 3: Add Your Loved One’s Details

Start with the cover:

• Full name
• Dates of birth and death
• A clear, meaningful photo
• Service date, time, location and officiant’s name

Then move inside to add:

• Welcome or opening blessing
• Hymn titles and lyrics
• Bible readings (with book, chapter and verse)
• Prayers, eulogy outline and closing words

If you’re not sure what wording to use, your How to write a funeral order of service guide can provide helpful examples.

Step 4: Insert Appropriate Scripture and Hymns

You may wish to include:

• A favourite Bible verse on the cover or first page
• Full text of key readings (e.g. Psalm 23, John 14)
• Hymn lyrics so guests can join in

Make sure you:

• Use a Bible translation your church normally uses (e.g. NIV, NRSV, KJV)
• Check the wording and line breaks for hymns carefully
• Keep text size large enough for older guests

Step 5: Personalise Colours and Imagery (If You Wish)

You can keep the default colours or:

• Adjust the palette to a favourite colour
• Soften backgrounds if you want a calmer look
• Add additional images, such as a small cross or church silhouette

Small tweaks can make the template feel uniquely “theirs” without losing the professional layout.

Step 6: Preview, Proof‑Read and Share with Family

Use the preview to see how the booklet will look once printed. Then:

• Check names, dates, verses and hymn lyrics for errors
• Ask at least one other family member to review
• Confirm titles and spellings for clergy or speakers

Catch any changes now before you place the print order.

Step 7: Arrange Printing and (Optional) Digital Version

When you’re happy:

• Choose your page count, paper type and quantity on the
  Funeral Order Of Service Printing page.
• Submit your design for free artwork checking.
• Select free delivery or next‑day options, depending on timings.

You can also request a digital flipbook version, which is especially helpful for friends and relatives who cannot attend the service in person.

Example Religious Orders of Service

Here are three simple outlines that many families use as a starting point. You can adapt them to match your church’s practice.

Example 1: Church of England or Traditional Protestant Service

• Entrance music
• Welcome and opening prayer
• Hymn 1
• Bible reading 1
• Eulogy or address
• Hymn 2
• Prayers and the Lord’s Prayer
• Commendation and Committal
• Blessing
• Exit music

Example 2: Catholic Funeral Mass (Simplified)

• Entrance hymn and procession
• Greeting and sprinkling with holy water
• Opening prayer
• First reading
• Responsorial psalm
• Second reading (optional)
• Gospel and homily
• Prayers of the Faithful
• Offertory hymn and preparation of the gifts
• Eucharistic Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
• Sign of Peace and Communion
• Prayer after Communion
• Final commendation and farewell
• Recessional hymn

Example 3: Non‑Denominational Christian Celebration of Life

• Opening music
• Welcome and opening prayer
• Reading or poem
• Eulogy and tributes from family/friends
• Reflection time with music or slide show
• Bible reading and short message
• Closing prayer or blessing
• Final song or hymn
• Exit music

You can find more detailed wording suggestions and layouts in:
Funeral Order Of Service Examples & Ideas.

FAQs About Religious Funeral Templates