Riverside Church, Birmingham B13 8AR
Lindsay Lucas
Riverside Church, Birmingham, was featured on Songs of Praise on All Souls Day, November 2025, as part of their programme about the Christian faith at times of bereavement. Featuring Ataloss’ CEO, Yvonne Tulloch, the programme was able to show Riverside’s Central Hub that provides caring services for the local community with Listening Rooms, Café and Chaplains as well as the Riverside Money Advice through which so many people come into contact with the church. In this bereavement is often identified as a contributing factor to individuals’ current struggles. Songs of Praise also gave insight into how we run The Bereavement Journey® programme to meet the needs of bereaved people to help them to process their loss.
In addition, Songs of Praise included a song, ‘Hiding Place,’ written and performed by Ben Pearson, our Worship Director, who writes songs of lament for inclusion in worship, - recognising that suffering is a biblical part of the Christian life, sitting alongside Christian hope. All these elements demonstrate the Marks that have we have met first.
Because we have songwriter, Ben, heading up our worship, who champions the concept that suffering is a legitimate part of Christian experience, we have been able to work on Mark 6 of the Charter for Bereavement Friendly church more easily. Along with the leadership addressing suffering ‘from the front’ either in talks, or between songs, this Mark is one we fulfil.
Lindsay Lucas, who was appointed Bereavement Lead during the pandemic and is part of Care for the Family charity’s training team, says “I am both trained up and deliver training within the Church around Bereavement Care Awareness, so the first part of Mark 4 is met. Developing a good relationship with leadership, and bringing all my concerns, plans and recommendations to my line manager, the Associate Pastor, is vital for the second part of this Mark to be met and to keep on reviewing this at a strategic level. Trust in each other is key – I believe through these actions we can safely claim to fulfil both elements of this Mark.”
Riverside is a large church (over 500, almost half of whom are under 18 years old) so, in order to fulfil Marks 1 and 11, I have to keep close tabs on all changes within the wider church and any newcomers to pastoral roles (eg leading Connect group leaders) in order to keep a healthy eye on ensuring the wider church better understand the needs of bereaved people as well as revisiting and refreshing appropriate training.
In order to work towards Mark 2, we have introduced a ‘Hints and Tips sheets’ which highlight the sorts of things to say and not say to bereaved people. I am regularly seeking ways to update information for the wider church, such as for newbies on the Welcome Team, and these sheets give advice at the point of first meeting someone, not knowing if they have recently suffered a bereavement. The sheets include what to say/not to say, what to do/ not do, with the emphasis on enabling all visitors and members of the church to feel seen and their feelings validated.
Mark 9 is also one that we intentionally meet in diverse ways. Firstly, signposting to Ataloss.org is key, and sometimes we know of other bereavement charities, local or national that may be specific to an individual need. In addition, I have been creating links with other local groups to create a vibrant network of signposting both from our church and back to our running of The Bereavement Journey ® courses. A local church runs a weekly bereavement café to which many of our guests go to build on relationships built during the 7 weeks. Another local church runs quarterly ‘Remembering’ afternoon teas as well as running a Blue Christmas service to which our guests, past and current are invited.
We also liaise with non-church organisations, such as a local neighbourhood receiving funding from Compassionate Communities who provide ‘Remembering Friends’ evenings and other networking events such as ‘Dying Matters’ in the local community. This enables us all to avoid reinventing the wheel, but to refer and signpost to each other and match people to the best ongoing support that suits their location, circumstances and need. This is the way that Riverside Church’s Central Hub connects well with community that best serves those who have been bereaved.
In conclusion, it is a total privilege to ensure that our church is serving bereaved people as well as it can, and keep encouraging us all to strive for excellence, so that every bereaved person feels comforted and safe at Riverside, at the same time as being introduced to and reminded of the hope that we have as Christians.