it is not and never was a "CofE thing."

If they have a minister and mutter some prayers it is a religious thing. Cannot be anything else.

The Prayers were led by Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch.

Would that be the Nigel Simeon McCulloch, KCVO (born 17 January 1942) who is an Anglican bishop by any chance? If it is not a CofE thing what was he doing on the programme?

If people want a vicar they can go to church. If the want a rabbi they can go to a synagogue. If they want an imam they can go to the mosque. Where can those who want to avoid any religious nonsense go if they want to remember their lost ones?