Funeral reading
In the Garden
C. Austin Miles, 1912
“In the Garden” by C. Austin Miles, 1912 is a hymn read at a funeral or memorial service. It takes about 4 minutes read aloud, usually by everyone together. It is in the public domain, but we do not set the words here — the note below says what to bring instead, and why.
Why the words are not printed here
Public domain. Very commonly requested at American Protestant funerals.
What it is about
Intimate rather than grand. Frequently asked for by name.
Read at a funeral or memorial service. Themes: gentle · American South · a grandmother · personal rather than grand · gardening.
Questions about reading it aloud
How long does “In the Garden” take to read aloud?
“In the Garden” takes about 4 minutes read aloud at a ceremony pace, which is slower than conversation — roughly 130 words a minute. That is the figure the run-sheet uses when it works out the timing for the whole service.
Who usually reads “In the Garden”?
Everyone together, rather than one reader. “In the Garden” runs about 4 minutes and needs the words in front of the room — in an order of service, on a screen, or led line by line by the officiant.
Can “In the Garden” be printed in a ceremony script?
Not by us. Public domain. Very commonly requested at American Protestant funerals.
A reading is two minutes of the hour.
The rest is the welcome, the life, the remembrances, the committal — and knowing what comes next. Answer some questions about them and get the whole service, written out, with this reading in its place.
Other readings that suit the same service
- Be Thou My Vision4 minutesAncient Irish, trans. Mary Byrne 1905
- Amazing Grace4 minutesJohn Newton, 1779
- Abide With Me4 minutesHenry Francis Lyte, 1847
- The Lord's My Shepherd (Crimond)4 minutesScottish Psalter, 1650
- How Great Thou Art5 minutesStuart K. Hine (English text, 1949)
- It Is Well With My Soul4 minutesHoratio Spafford, 1873