O God of grace and glory,
we remember before thee this day our brother (sister) N.
We thank thee for giving him (her) to us,
his (her) family and friends,
to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage.
In thy boundless compassion,
console us who mourn.
Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life,
so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth,
until, by thy call, we are reunited with those who have gone before;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who died and rose again to save us,
and who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit,
world without end.
Amen.
ECUMENICAL TRADITIONAL; BCP 1662 AND ECUMENICAL SOURCES
A Prayer at a Funeral
Also known as Funeral Prayer · Prayer for the Departed · Prayer at a Burial
About this prayer
The Christian funeral is a service of worship that acknowledges death, gives thanks for a life, commends the departed to God, and offers hope of resurrection to those who mourn. The Book of Common Prayer's Order for the Burial of the Dead is one of the most influential burial rites in the English language, its phrases passing into common speech and literary culture. The prayer given here draws on the BCP burial rite and on the broader ecumenical tradition of Christian funeral prayer. It holds together the reality of grief and the Christian hope of resurrection, without minimizing either. It is suitable for use across denominational traditions.
When it's said
This prayer is used at a Christian funeral or burial service, typically said by the officiant. It may also be said at a memorial service, at the graveside, or as a private prayer by those who mourn. Psalm 23 is commonly read alongside it in most Protestant and Anglican funeral services.
Notes on the text
The name and pronouns of the deceased are inserted where indicated. The phrase 'the gate of eternal life' draws on the ancient Christian understanding of death not as an ending but as a passage, reflected in the BCP burial rite's use of John 11:25-26 ('I am the resurrection and the life'). The prayer addresses the mourners directly, acknowledging their grief before moving to the hope of resurrection.
Source
Ecumenical prayer drawing on the Book of Common Prayer, 1662 Order for the Burial of the Dead, and traditional Christian funeral liturgy. Public domain.
Last reviewed: May 2026 against primary source.