THE Rural Dean of Swindon visited a funeral home in the town to bless its Christmas tree and help invite the bereaved to tie remembrance cards to it.
Canon Michael Johnson performed the ceremony of dedication at Temple Street Funerals in Old Town, which is run by Oxford, Swindon and Gloucester Co-op Funerals.
The firm has a policy of inviting the bereaved people to leave messages of remembrance on the Christmas trees at its premises.
Spokeswoman Lynn Withey said: "This is our special seasonal event which gives people who want to mark the loss of a loved one a chance to do this by adding a dedication card."
"In addition, our dedication service gives many people a chance to meet and talk about their experiences.
"This can be especially comforting if it is the first Christmas since they lost a family member."
Other funeral homes run by the firm also have trees.
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