Whitney Houston funeral to take place in former church

The funeral of Whitney Houston is reportedly to take place at her former New Jersey church.

The singer and actress attended New Hope Baptist Church in Newark as a child and sang in its choir.

The funeral will take place at 1700 GMT and is to be a private farewell for family and close friends.

Houston was found dead at a hotel in Beverly Hills on Saturday. Her body was flown from California to Newark on Monday and transported to the Whigham Funeral Home in a gold hearse.

An autopsy was carried out on Sunday but results are being withheld pending toxicology tests.

It is expected to be several weeks before the cause of death is confirmed, but foul play has been ruled out by the authorities.

Flowers and messages of sympathy have been left in memory of the singer outside New Hope Baptist Church.

She was remembered at last Sunday’s service, attended by civil rights campaigner Jesse Jackson.

Commenting on her death, Jackson said: “When this happens, there’s no rational explanation, just you have to cling to your faith and hold on until the morning comes.”