CREMATION
Approximately 75% of funerals in the UK involve cremation and in the majority of cases, this tends to be less expensive than a burial. Generally, the cremated remains (often referred to as "ashes") are available within 24 hours of cremation and we would usually collect these for you, pending your decision on their final place of rest.
BURIAL
There are three general options surrounding burial; in a churchyard, in a civil cemetery or in a natural burial ground. In each case the regulations are slightly different.
Churchyard
Many local churchyards are already full and can only accept new burials where the families already own an existing grave and there is still room for a further interment. The deceased will usually need to have resided/died in the parish to qualify to be buried in a churchyard. It is not generally possible to pre-purchase or reserve a burial plot in a churchyard and no grave deed is issued, as the plot remains the property of the church.
You should be aware that the rules and regulations concerning certain types of memorials/headstones allowed in churchyards are different and are often restrictive.
CEMETERY
Graves in cemeteries may be purchased before death or at the time of death and this usually confers an exclusive right of burial for a period of time
Extra fees may be payable if the person who has died was residing outside the local area. Please be aware these can become very expensive at either double, treble, quadruple or even five times the normal fees for a local resident, depending on the cemetery concerned.
Cemeteries are more flexible on the type of memorial/headstone you can have and this generally will allow a much wider choice on the type and size of stone, style and colour of font for engraving and the colour of the stone itself.
WOODLAND/NATURAL BURIAL GROUND
All coffins must be made of natural bio-degradable material and Embalming is often not permitted unless under exceptional circumstances such as repatriation.