Is a Funeral a Public Event?
Discussion
Is a funeral, or a wedding a public event? Does anyone have the right to attend? I mean, of course, funeral events being held in public crematoria, or a wedding being held in a church.
Before anyone says "Why would you want to go if you are not invited?" Please answer the hypothetical question.
Do you have the right to attend if you want to?
Before anyone says "Why would you want to go if you are not invited?" Please answer the hypothetical question.
Do you have the right to attend if you want to?
The Mad Monk said:
Is a funeral, or a wedding a public event? Does anyone have the right to attend? I mean, of course, funeral events being held in public crematoria, or a wedding being held in a church.
Before anyone says "Why would you want to go if you are not invited?" Please answer the hypothetical question.
Do you have the right to attend if you want to?
I believe you have the right to attend, but the family also has the right to ask you to leave. Before anyone says "Why would you want to go if you are not invited?" Please answer the hypothetical question.
Do you have the right to attend if you want to?
I think the word 'public' in 'public crematorium' answers your question. I am not a God botherer, but I believe weddings and baptisms at churches are also public events. Of course, the family have the right to ask you to leave, and you have the right to politely say no.
We had an unfortunate rift in my family which resulted in my eldest brother becoming estranged from the rest of us. When he died, his son informed all his friends and my cousins, but not me nor my other brother. We talked about it, and decided that mum and dad wouldn't be too impressed with us if we allowed the feud to continue beyond the grave, so we decided to turn up. We sat at the back and kept quiet.
Outside, I was having a chat with one of my cousins when the said son walked over, had a few words with my cousin and turned away, completely ignoring me. I didn't stay long after that, but I am glad I went.
I wonder if this is the kind if situation the OP finds himself in? My advice would be to do what your conscience tells you, but don't make a drama out of it.
We had an unfortunate rift in my family which resulted in my eldest brother becoming estranged from the rest of us. When he died, his son informed all his friends and my cousins, but not me nor my other brother. We talked about it, and decided that mum and dad wouldn't be too impressed with us if we allowed the feud to continue beyond the grave, so we decided to turn up. We sat at the back and kept quiet.
Outside, I was having a chat with one of my cousins when the said son walked over, had a few words with my cousin and turned away, completely ignoring me. I didn't stay long after that, but I am glad I went.
I wonder if this is the kind if situation the OP finds himself in? My advice would be to do what your conscience tells you, but don't make a drama out of it.
The Mad Monk said:
parabolica said:
I believe you have the right to attend, but the family also has the right to ask you to leave.
And if you decline?Gameface said:
You want to be that person? At a funeral?
Also this.Roofless Toothless said:
I wonder if this is the kind if situation the OP finds himself in? My advice would be to do what your conscience tells you, but don't make a drama out of it.
Let me assure you that I am not in 'any situation'.It is a completely hypothetical (well almost) question.
(well almost) The neighbour of a friend of mine has died. Let us call him Fred. among Fred's circle of friends, relations, neighbours and acquaintances, there is one person who is a household name (no, I am not telling), to stop gawpers attending the funeral, they are, I understand, going to send out invitations.
My question is, could any Tom, Dick or Harry turn up and demand admission, even if they are not on the guest list?
They can make it a private service, or if they are ok with the person attending, maybe have them enter the ceremony via a side door?
Looks like it's a question of etiquette, not law
ETA years and years ago I attended the funeral of a well known local footballer who was a family friend. There were a lot of supporters who came to pay respects; the undertakers/funeral service had extra staff on hand to ensure everything was kept civil, reminding everyone to be respectful of the family etc. It just needs to be managed right.
Looks like it's a question of etiquette, not law
ETA years and years ago I attended the funeral of a well known local footballer who was a family friend. There were a lot of supporters who came to pay respects; the undertakers/funeral service had extra staff on hand to ensure everything was kept civil, reminding everyone to be respectful of the family etc. It just needs to be managed right.
Edited by parabolica on Wednesday 25th September 09:58
I was driving in an easterly direction in my marked supervision police car past the entrance to a crematorium in Brighton. I saw a man dressed as Robin, the androgynous friend of Batman. I turned my car around and drove into the forecourt of chapel number one where I saw a number of people dressed unusually for area. There was a high number of vicars, priests and a bishop or two. I thought it odd that there was so many in Arabic dress standing outside a Christian chapel. I stopped my car and was approached by a man dressed as a cowboy. He had frills on his waistcoat and was sporting a pink shirt and what appeared to be leather trousers with more tassles.
As it was, the deceased had asked for fancy dress in all attendees as he'd had a full, if short, life and did not want any mourning. 'If someone is sitting next to a person dressed as Mickey Mouse, it would be difficult for them to cry.'
No one turned up as Mickey Mouse. In their place I, dressed in police uniform, was something of the belle of the ball. I even gave out orders of service for a while.
I apologised to the chap who came up to me for disrupting the funeral, but he dismissed that with a wristy wave of his hand. He was dressed as John Wayne, but his walk suggested his heart wasn't in it. He said that, when he saw the police car, he thought that someone had stolen the show. 'And you have, my dear.'
It was a brilliant idea for a funeral. The crowd were very welcoming, really great fun. The sadness was there, but everyone, including me, would remember it in a positive frame of mind. A lovely epitaph for a bloke whom, it seems, faced an early death with a bit of class.
- * *
As it was, the deceased had asked for fancy dress in all attendees as he'd had a full, if short, life and did not want any mourning. 'If someone is sitting next to a person dressed as Mickey Mouse, it would be difficult for them to cry.'
No one turned up as Mickey Mouse. In their place I, dressed in police uniform, was something of the belle of the ball. I even gave out orders of service for a while.
I apologised to the chap who came up to me for disrupting the funeral, but he dismissed that with a wristy wave of his hand. He was dressed as John Wayne, but his walk suggested his heart wasn't in it. He said that, when he saw the police car, he thought that someone had stolen the show. 'And you have, my dear.'
It was a brilliant idea for a funeral. The crowd were very welcoming, really great fun. The sadness was there, but everyone, including me, would remember it in a positive frame of mind. A lovely epitaph for a bloke whom, it seems, faced an early death with a bit of class.
Derek Smith said:
I was driving in an easterly direction in my marked supervision police car past the entrance to a crematorium in Brighton. I saw a man dressed as Robin, the androgynous friend of Batman. I turned my car around and drove into the forecourt of chapel number one where I saw a number of people dressed unusually for area. There was a high number of vicars, priests and a bishop or two. I thought it odd that there was so many in Arabic dress standing outside a Christian chapel. I stopped my car and was approached by a man dressed as a cowboy. He had frills on his waistcoat and was sporting a pink shirt and what appeared to be leather trousers with more tassles.
As it was, the deceased had asked for fancy dress in all attendees as he'd had a full, if short, life and did not want any mourning. 'If someone is sitting next to a person dressed as Mickey Mouse, it would be difficult for them to cry.'
No one turned up as Mickey Mouse. In their place I, dressed in police uniform, was something of the belle of the ball. I even gave out orders of service for a while.
I apologised to the chap who came up to me for disrupting the funeral, but he dismissed that with a wristy wave of his hand. He was dressed as John Wayne, but his walk suggested his heart wasn't in it. He said that, when he saw the police car, he thought that someone had stolen the show. 'And you have, my dear.'
It was a brilliant idea for a funeral. The crowd were very welcoming, really great fun. The sadness was there, but everyone, including me, would remember it in a positive frame of mind. A lovely epitaph for a bloke whom, it seems, faced an early death with a bit of class.
No, I think that all sounds completely normal - for Brighton.- * *
As it was, the deceased had asked for fancy dress in all attendees as he'd had a full, if short, life and did not want any mourning. 'If someone is sitting next to a person dressed as Mickey Mouse, it would be difficult for them to cry.'
No one turned up as Mickey Mouse. In their place I, dressed in police uniform, was something of the belle of the ball. I even gave out orders of service for a while.
I apologised to the chap who came up to me for disrupting the funeral, but he dismissed that with a wristy wave of his hand. He was dressed as John Wayne, but his walk suggested his heart wasn't in it. He said that, when he saw the police car, he thought that someone had stolen the show. 'And you have, my dear.'
It was a brilliant idea for a funeral. The crowd were very welcoming, really great fun. The sadness was there, but everyone, including me, would remember it in a positive frame of mind. A lovely epitaph for a bloke whom, it seems, faced an early death with a bit of class.
The answer depends on where the funeral is held.
As others have said, if you hold the service in a church then it's a public place of worship and you can't really stop someone attending.
If it's a private funeral home/chapel then you can obviously prevent the person from attending that bit.
I'm unsure if a service at a council funded crem is classed as a public or private space, I'd err on the side of it being a public space.
As others have said, if you hold the service in a church then it's a public place of worship and you can't really stop someone attending.
If it's a private funeral home/chapel then you can obviously prevent the person from attending that bit.
I'm unsure if a service at a council funded crem is classed as a public or private space, I'd err on the side of it being a public space.
Gameface said:
The Mad Monk said:
parabolica said:
I believe you have the right to attend, but the family also has the right to ask you to leave.
And if you decline?I think that a church is an open public building, you have a right to be there
It’s not the Queen Vic, so you cannot be barred. If you are attending a service, with no bad intent, then I don’t think that even the vicar would ask that you leave.
If there is likely to be a genuine family grievance with your presence, then take a pew at the back and try to be last in - first out. But hopefully, it could be a moment when family difficulties can be reconciled.
It’s not the Queen Vic, so you cannot be barred. If you are attending a service, with no bad intent, then I don’t think that even the vicar would ask that you leave.
If there is likely to be a genuine family grievance with your presence, then take a pew at the back and try to be last in - first out. But hopefully, it could be a moment when family difficulties can be reconciled.
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