Throughout the years we've been singing for funerals, no pattern for bookings has emerged. However, over the last months, one has emerged - bookings for the middle Friday of the month.

​Whilst all our singers enjoy singing hymns at funerals services, we are also increasingly conscious of a trend we call "internet verses overload"! 

This is a new favourite of ours, a great funeral poem set to wonderful music. We knew of the poem, but the musical setting only came to our notice last year.

Over the last four years, we've started to notice the trends in music played at funerals, with Adele exiting stage left to be replaced by Lilly Allen and others, but some classic pop versions last way beyond their moment in the charts. 

Where do you start when choosing hymns for a funeral service? There are so many hymns to choose from. Having sung at many Anglican funerals we've first hand experience of the various choices people have. Often it's a close run thing with the popularity of hymns as we all have our favourites. 

Choosing funeral songs can be difficult, and even more so if you're choosing for a Roman Catholic Funeral.

We have sung at a number of Roman Catholic funerals, when there has been some confusion beforehand about what music may be sung during a requiem mass.

Statistics do make interesting reading, whether it's the number of votes politicians receive, or the number of songs we've sung at funerals!

Often people ask us which is the most popular song we've sung for a funeral, and yes, there is one that is requested far more than most, Schubert's Ave Maria.

There's something very special and particularly moving about singing at the graveside.

The funeral service itself was a celebration of a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend and mentor to many people. I had the privilege to listen to a wonderful eulogy, some moving tributes and speak with many people afterwards. I also led the mourners in some terrific hymns: Dear Lord and father of mankind, How great thou art, The Lord's my shepherd and The day thou gravest.

There appears to be a plethora of new hymns arriving each year. Every church we sing in has another new 'favourite' that we at Singers for Funerals need to learn, and I am truly amazed at this fact.