Richard Steel & Partners hosts first virtual memorial service
Family owned funeral directors, Richard Steel and Partners hosted its first virtual memorial service.
The funeral directors which has been hosting its annual memorial service for the past 28 years at Chesil House created the service for families to watch amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Revd Simon Cansdale, vicar of Christ Church, Winchester officiated in front of the camera and the service included readings by the team at Steels, hymns sung by Kirsty and Toni from ‘Singers for Funerals’.
Over 250 people watched it “live” on Sunday 19 July and the recording is now available on the Richard Steel and Partners homepage, where it has been viewed many more times.
Iain Steel said: “Remembering a loved one and honouring their life is always important – but perhaps even more so this year. 2020 is our 160th anniversary, so we felt we could not just simply postpone our annual service, like so many other events this year.
“My family have been serving the local community for four generations and this service has become part of the calendar locally. Our huge investment in 2018 to create this exquisite riverside events venue has really helped our families at this difficult time, with our services being webcast all over the world utilising the multiple cameras in The Chesil Suite.”
He added: “With its unhurried relaxed atmosphere, Chesil House has been invaluable and extremely popular throughout the recent pandemic, especially whilst churches have been closed and with crematoria interpreting the restrictions in different ways.”
