LEDBURY’s Methodist Church has launched a Death Café — a chance for people to talk freely about one of life’s great inevitabilities, other than taxes.

Organisers have stressed that the informal monthly event is not a bereavement support group or counselling service. 

Church Deacon Angie Allport said: “You may have seen the flyers about it but weren’t sure what it was or thought it sounded a bit grim. 

“Death Café started in London over a decade ago and is now an international movement.

“For various reasons, today’s society isn’t very good at talking about death, even though some people want to talk about it. 

“Death Café provides a safe space for conversation about anything and everything relating to death and dying – all done over tea and cake! 

“It's free, friendly and really isn't gloomy. But it’s also important to know what Death Café is not; it’s not a bereavement support group or counselling service.”

The town’s first death café was held on Thursday, October 7, when 11 people gathered to share their thoughts and questions about the end of life. 

Among the subjects raised were palliative care, resuscitation orders, preferences between burial or cremation and what freedoms exist for alternative funeral arrangements. “The conversation certainly didn’t dry up,” said Deacon Angie. 

The website for the international Death Café movement also clarifies the idea’s aims. It says: “At a Death Café people, often strangers, gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death.

“Our objective is 'to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their — finite — lives'.

“A Death Café is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session.” 

The Death Café will continue to meet on the first Thursday of every month at 2.30pm in the Meeting Centre at Ledbury Methodist Church on Bye Street. “Anyone is welcome to come along at any time – just turn up,” Deacon Angie added.

For more information about Ledbury’s new Death Café, email Angie on angie.allport@methodist.org.uk.

To find out more about the wider Death Café movement, visit deathcafe.com.