Case Study: Ethiopian Orthodox Funeral Streaming – St Mary’s Church Battersea & Islington Cemetery, London

Background

Last week, I was contacted by Levertons Funeral Directors on behalf of a family just a few days before the funeral of their loved one was due to take place. They belonged to the Ethiopian Orthodox community in London and wanted to ensure that relatives abroad could take part in the service through our respectful and professional funeral streaming service.

The service was held at St Mary St Mary of Debre Tsion Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Battersea in South West London (SW8), followed by the burial at Islington & St Pancras Cemetery. Given the short notice, it was important to plan quickly and carefully to ensure the live stream would run flawlessly from start to finish.

Ethiopian Orthodox funerals are steeped in ritual and symbolism, combining ancient prayers, chanting, incense, and the powerful presence of community. It was a privilege to be asked to document such a meaningful occasion for the family and their wider community around the world.

Preparation

To make sure everything ran smoothly, I travelled down to London the night before to set up in the evening, as the funeral on the following day was an 8am service. This allowed me to test internet coverage both inside and outside the church, set up my multi-camera system, and ensure the microphones were positioned perfectly to capture the rich chanting, spoken prayers, and readings.

Inside the church, the space was filled with icons, candles, incense, and vibrant colour. My goal was to remain as discreet as possible while still capturing the emotion and atmosphere of the morning.

The Service at St Mary’s Ethiopian Orthodox Church

At the heart of the service was the coffin, wrapped in the Ethiopian flag, surrounded by clergy dressed in ornate robes. As the service began, bearers carried the coffin in, led by the priests who sang beautiful traditional Ethiopian Orthodox chants, accompanied by clouds of incense that filled the church.

The priest and deacons led the congregation through a sequence of prayers and blessings. The sound of voices echoing through the church, combined with the scent of incense, created a deeply spiritual atmosphere of reverence and faith.

During the service, family members shared tributes, and as they spoke, the live stream allowed relatives in Ethiopia, the United States, Canada, and many other parts of the world to experience the service in real time.

Using two professional cameras — one fixed wide shot and one close-up camera for key moments — ensured that those watching online could see both the full setting and the intimate details. Our camera feed was broadcast in 1080p high definition, with carefully managed audio levels (always a challenge with four priests involved) to ensure clarity while preserving the natural atmosphere of the room.

The Journey to Islington Cemetery

After the service concluded, the family and congregation made their way to Islington Cemetery for the burial. The weather had turned, and rain began to fall as everyone gathered at the graveside.

It’s always a challenge live streaming in the rain, but I’ve had plenty of practice over the years and carry waterproof covers and umbrellas to ensure everything stays protected.

At the graveside, mourners gathered under umbrellas while the priest continued to chant and pray. The coffin was carried from the hearse and lowered carefully into the grave as the family began their final farewell — scattering flowers into the resting place.

Despite the rain, these important moments were captured perfectly: the chanting, the tears, the raindrops, and the wind combined to create a scene both powerful and peaceful.

Covering both the church and the burial required careful coordination with the funeral directors to allow time for travel and setup. With extensive experience in funeral streaming across multiple locations, I had everything ready at the cemetery before the cortege arrived, ensuring that the broadcast continued seamlessly.

Technical Approach

• For this service, I used my standard two-camera setup and bonded Live Streaming kit to provide both creative coverage and technical reliability. One camera provided a wide, uninterrupted view of the church, while the second focused on close-ups of the clergy, readings, and tributes.

• Sound is a crucial element of Ethiopian Orthodox funerals — the chanting, bells, and voices carry deep meaning. To capture this faithfully, I placed microphones strategically around the church, ensuring that the chanting and prayers were recorded clearly without overpowering ambient sound.

• At the cemetery, I adapted the setup for the weather, using rain covers and repositioning microphones to handle outdoor acoustics.

• The broadcast used four bonded internet connections, ensuring an uninterrupted stream even in areas where a single signal might drop. This meant family members watching from abroad experienced a stable, high-quality stream throughout both parts of the day.

The Result

Included in our Funeral Streaming Services the family will receive:

• A full HD recording of both the church service and the burial.

• A private streaming link that will remain online for 12 months.

• The ability to download and keep a permanent copy of the service.

For those watching overseas, the live stream provided comfort and connection. They could share prayers, watch familiar rituals, and feel included in the farewell. The family later said how grateful they were that loved ones in Ethiopia, the USA, and across Europe were able to participate from afar.

For me, it was an honour to document a service so rich in faith, tradition, and love. The combination of sound, ceremony, and community made it one of the most moving funerals I have streamed.

Global Reach and Results

The impact of this live stream reached far beyond London. Friends and family from 12 countries and 42 regions around the world joined together online to take part in the service — a testament to how funeral live streaming can unite people across continents in shared remembrance.

Throughout the morning, the live broadcast connected viewers from Ethiopia to Europe, North America, and beyond, allowing loved ones to participate in prayers, chanting, and tributes as if they were present in the church. The feedback from the family was deeply moving — many said it brought them peace knowing that relatives on different continents could join in the farewell.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the global locations where 1240 viewers from 12 countries and 42 states around the world tuned in:

🇪🇹 Ethiopia, Addis Ababa – 383 viewers

🇬🇧 United Kingdom, England – 193 viewers

🇺🇸 United States, California – 140 viewers

🇺🇸 United States, Virginia – 54 viewers

🇨🇦 Canada, Ontario – 50 viewers

🇺🇸 United States, New York – 45 viewers

🇺🇸 United States, District of Columbia – 44 viewers

🇺🇸 United States, Texas – 41 viewers

🇺🇸 United States, Maryland – 29 viewers

🇧🇪 Belgium, Brussels – 27 viewers

🇺🇸 United States, Washington – 26 viewers

🇨🇦 Canada, British Columbia – 17 viewers

🇮🇹 Italy, Lazio – 16 viewers

🇺🇸 United States, Illinois – 14 viewers

🇺🇸 United States, Georgia – 14 viewers

🇺🇸 United States, Florida – 12 viewers

🇩🇪 Germany, Bayern – 12 viewers

🇫🇷 France – 12 viewers

🏴 United Kingdom, Wales – 11 viewers

🇨🇭 Switzerland, Zürich – 10 viewers

This worldwide audience shows how meaningful it can be to provide professional, reliable funeral streaming, giving families and communities the ability to come together — even when separated by oceans.

To learn more about how our funeral live streaming services connect families globally, please visit our main page.