A Bishop, a Chaplain, four Pastors and a glorious choir celebrated Integrity Funeral Care opening its new premises in Hackney on Amhurst Road.
Bishop Elon Charles, from the Refuge Church of the Living God, was joined by, among others, Reverend Chris Morgan, Chaplain to the Anglican Bishop of Stepney, Pastor Francis Lewis from Shiloh Pentecostal Church and a host of other celebrants, clergy, family and friends. Integrity is owned and run by husband-and-wife team, Paul and Sharon McLean.“
Sharon McLean said: “Opening here in Hackney is all about family and community, and we want to welcome local people to come to see us whenever they want. We’re going to have days when people can just drop in and have a look round, to see what a funeral director actually does. We hope it might dispel some of the fears around the work, and also help us to make even more friends in the Hackney area.”
The McLean’s offer their services to people of all faiths and none, and they’ve worked with a wide range of communities, from all different Christian beliefs, to humanists and Buddhists, however, they’re best known for their work with members of the African-Caribbean community.
Paul added: “People like ourselves with African or West Indian heritage have different traditions when it comes to funerals, and many funeral directors don’t understand we do things a little differently. Occasions like Nine Night, the traditional way to celebrate a person’s life, are unknown to most in our business.
“They don’t understand our funerals go on for a lot longer, take place much later after the deceased has passed, involve a lot more music and readings, that kind of thing. It feels right that we’re opening our new premises in October, Black History Month, believing as we do in keeping these historic traditions alive.”
