West Cumbria Families Invited To Remember Loved Ones At Special Church Services
Families across West Cumbria are being invited to attend two remembrance services where lights will be dedicated to loved ones.
The annual Light Up a Life services are being organised by Hospice at Home West Cumbria and will take place on Sunday, 29 November 2026. Both gatherings are scheduled to begin at 2pm, with one being held at St Michael’s Church in Workington and the other at St Mary and St Michael’s Church in Egremont. The events will provide an opportunity for people to come together, remember those who have died and reflect on the lives of people who remain an important part of their families and communities.
The services are open to everyone, regardless of whether their loved one previously received care from Hospice at Home West Cumbria. The charity is encouraging residents from across the area to attend, including people who simply wish to take part in a shared act of remembrance. Families, friends and individuals will be able to dedicate a light in memory of someone special, making the gatherings an opportunity for people to remember loved ones in a supportive community setting during the Christmas period.
The programme at both churches will include readings, choir performances, prayers and periods of quiet reflection. These elements are intended to provide a meaningful setting for people to remember family members and friends who are no longer with them. The services will also feature the switching on of lights on the hospice Christmas tree, with each dedicated light representing someone being remembered. Those attending will also have the opportunity to switch on an individual candle during the reflective part of the gathering.
Gemma Bell, fundraising team leader at Hospice at Home West Cumbria, said the Christmas period could be particularly difficult for people experiencing the loss of someone close to them. She explained that the annual services offer an opportunity to remember those people, celebrate their lives and spend time reflecting alongside relatives, friends and other members of the community. The charity hopes the gatherings will provide a welcoming environment where people can share memories and feel supported during what can be an emotional time of year.
The Light Up a Life programme has been an established part of the hospice's annual calendar for many years. It gives local people an opportunity to recognise the lives of relatives and friends through personal dedications and shared remembrance. Rather than being limited to families who have previously used hospice services, the events are intended to involve the wider West Cumbrian community. The charity encourages anyone who has lost someone special to consider attending, whether they wish to dedicate a light or simply spend time reflecting.
People wishing to have a dedication included in the charity's 2026 Book of Lights must submit their messages by Monday, 16 November. Dedications received before that deadline will be included in the commemorative book, allowing the messages to form part of the remembrance arrangements. Those who miss the deadline can still make a dedication, with later submissions being made available to view through the charity's website. This means families will continue to have an opportunity to remember loved ones even after the printed dedication deadline has passed.
The charity has also made arrangements for people to create their own personal messages in memory of someone they have lost. These dedications allow families and friends to record loving messages and share memories as part of the annual event. The Christmas tree lights will be switched on during the services to represent the people being remembered, creating a collective tribute involving members of the community. Further information about making a dedication and attending the gatherings is available through the charity's dedicated Light Up a Life webpage.
Alongside its remembrance events, Hospice at Home West Cumbria provides specialist care and support for people approaching the end of their lives. The organisation delivers free palliative and end-of-life care in patients' own homes, operating around the clock throughout the year. This service allows people with life-limiting illnesses to receive professional care in familiar surroundings, where possible, while also providing support to relatives and carers. The charity says it must raise more than £1.5 million annually to maintain its services across the area.
Its work extends beyond nursing and end-of-life care, with the organisation also providing West Cumbria's only specialist lymphoedema service. Lymphoedema is a long-term condition involving swelling caused by a build-up of fluid in the body's tissues, and specialist support can help people manage its effects. The hospice also offers complementary therapies as part of its wider approach to supporting patients. These services form part of the organisation's work with people living with serious illnesses and those requiring additional care during difficult stages of their lives.
Bereavement support is another important part of the organisation's work, with one-to-one assistance and group support available for patients, carers and families. Losing someone close can have a lasting impact, and the charity's support services are intended to help people navigate the emotional challenges associated with bereavement. The Light Up a Life gatherings complement this work by providing an opportunity for people to remember loved ones alongside others who may have experienced similar losses. The services also recognise that grief can become particularly difficult during family celebrations and the Christmas season.
The annual fundraising appeal helps the hospice continue delivering these services without charging patients for its palliative and end-of-life care. The organisation relies on community fundraising, donations and other financial support to meet its annual running costs, which exceed £1.5 million. The remembrance services therefore have both a personal and charitable purpose, allowing families to honour people they have lost while helping raise funds for care provided to others across West Cumbria. People who are unable to attend can also find information about making a dedication or donation through the organisation's website.
Residents interested in attending either gathering can find further details through Hospice at Home West Cumbria's official website. The Workington service will take place at St Michael’s Church, Workington, CA14 2EZ, while the Egremont gathering will be held at St Mary and St Michael’s Church, Egremont, CA22 2AW. Both services are scheduled for 2pm on Sunday, 29 November 2026. Information about personal dedications, donations and the charity's wider services is available through its Light Up a Life information page.
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