FAQs
regarding the
Cremation Process
People often have many questions about cremation. The questions
in this section are sub-divided under four headings:
General Questions
How many of the deaths which occur in Great Britain each year
result in cremation?
Cremation has become the preferred method of disposal in Great
Britain. Approximately 72% of all recorded deaths are now followed
by cremation.
Are there any religious groups which forbid cremation to their
members?
All Christian denominations, including the Roman Catholic
Church, allow cremation. Cremation is also acceptable to Sikhs,
Hindus, Parsees and Buddhists but it is forbidden by Orthodox Jews
and Muslims.
Is cremation more expensive than burial?
Generally, the cost of burial is much higher than the fee
charged for cremation. Cremation usually necessitates the
production of medical certificates for which fees are payable to
doctors concerned. These certificates are not required when the
death has been referred to the Coroner (Procurator Fiscal in
Scotland) or when burial is required, although in this case, in
addition to the charges for interment, a number of other fees for
grave purchase, memorials and grave maintenance may be
incurred.
How is the cremation arranged?
A number of arrangements need to be made following a death. The
responsibility normally falls on the Executor or the nearest
surviving relative who may wish to approach a professional Funeral
Director who will undertake some of the various tasks on their
behalf. The Funeral Director will need to discuss with the family
their requirements concerning the service arrangements and will
assist in completing the necessary statutory and non-statutory
forms. The Funeral Directors will make the practical arrangements
for the collection of the body and will obtain the necessary
medical certificates. It is necessary to register the death and
information will be provided by the Funeral Director to assist in
completing that duty.
What arrangements can be made to ensure that the cremation is
the elected method of disposal following death?
Clear instruction in writing should be given to the person who
will be responsible for making the funeral arrangements. Such
instructions are not binding in law and it will, therefore, be
necessary to ensure that the person instructed is someone who is
likely to carry out the wishes of the deceased. The final decision
will rest on the executors.
Can more information be obtained concerning cremation and, if
required, can a crematorium be visited by members of the
public?
The matters referred to previously may be discussed in more
detail with the Registrar of the local crematorium. The Registrar
will be pleased to answer further questions and make arrangements
for any member of the public to be accompanied on a visit to the
crematorium.
The Cremation Service
What service arrangements are available at Crematorium?
A full religious service may be conducted at the crematorium
within the time allowed for each funeral. Alternatively, a service
may take place in any separate place of worship followed by a brief
committal ceremony at the crematorium. Families can arrange for
their particular Minister to conduct the service or, when required,
Funeral Directors may secure the services of a suitable Minister on
behalf of the family.
It is necessary for the cremation to be associated with a
religious ceremony?
The deceased's family can make any service arrangements which
they consider to be appropriate. Secular services can be conducted
at the crematorium or, if required, no ceremony need take place.
Memorial services can be conducted separately from the cremation
ceremony in local places of worship by arrangement with the
Minister concerned.
What is the procedure followed at the crematorium on the day of
the funeral?
The mourners will normally gather at the crematorium in the
waiting room or close to the entrance of the chapel a few minutes
before the appointed time of the funeral service. It is not usual
for the ceremony to commence before the publicised time. When the
principal mourners are ready to proceed, the coffin will be
conveyed into the chapel by the Funeral Director unless family
bearers are used by request. The coffin will be placed on the
catafalque and mourners will be directed to their seats, after
which the service will proceed. At the moment during the service
when the committal of the body takes place, the coffin may be
obscured from view by curtains or withdrawn from the chapel. At the
end of the service, the mourners leave the chapel and may then
inspect floral tributes.
What happens to the coffin after the committal?
The coffin is withdrawn into the committal room where the
nameplate is carefully checked by crematorium staff to ensure the
correct identity. An identity card will then accompany the coffin
and the resultant remains until their final disposal or removal
from the crematorium.
The Cremation itself
Can relatives witness the committal of the coffin to the
cremator?
The reception of the coffin in the committal room and its
introduction into a cremator can be witnessed by arrangement with
the Crematorium Manager/Registrar. It is preferable to advise the
Funeral Director of these requirements as early as possible when
making the funeral arrangements. A body will be cremated the same
day (within 24 hours).
Is the cremation of a body governed by a code of ethics and
working practices?
Cremation Authorities who are members of the Federation of
British Cremation Authorities are required to operate strictly in
accordance with a Code of Cremation Practice.
mso-spacerun:yes'>Link This Code, which provides the only
ethical standard of cremation practice in Great Britain, is often
displayed in the public areas of the building.
How soon after the service will the cremation take place?
The cremation will usually be commenced shortly after the
service. The Code of Cremation Practice specifies that the
cremation is always completed on the same day (24 hours) as the
service unless specified.
Is the coffin cremated with the body?
The Code requires that the coffin be placed in the cremator in
exactly the same condition as that in which it was received at the
crematorium. Crematorium regulations require that the coffin and
all its fittings and furnishings be made from materials suitable
for cremation. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 has placed a
new responsibility on Cremation Authorities to ensure that the
process is completed under controlled conditions which will
minimise the impact on the environment. In these circumstances it
will be necessary for any items included in the coffin for
presentation viewing purposes to be removed by the Funeral Director
before the coffin is conveyed to the crematorium. It will not be
possible for any floral tributes to be included with the coffin for
cremation.
Should items of jewellery be left on a body for cremation?
It is preferable that all items of jewellery be removed from the
body before the coffin is conveyed to the crematorium. The Funeral
Director should ascertain your wishes is respect of this matter
when the funeral arrangements have been discussed. It will not be
possible to recover any items of jewellery after the coffin has
been received at the crematorium.
Can more than one body be cremated in a cremator at the same
time?
The Code insists that each cremation is carried out separately.
Exceptions may be made, for instance, in the case of mother and
baby or twin children, providing the next of kin has made a
specific request in this regard.
What happens to the cremated remains after the cremation?
At the conclusion of a cremation, the cremated remains are
removed in their entirely and conveyed to a treatment area in a
special container. Ferrous metals used in the construction of the
coffin or metal used in medical implants are extracted and retained
for separate disposal. Non-ferrous metals which may include an
unrecognisable element of precious material will not be salvaged
for any purpose and will be disposed in accordance with the
requirements of the Code of Practice, invariably, this will be by
burial in the Crematorium grounds or recycled.
What procedures are followed to ensure that cremated remains
are kept separate?
A cremator can physically accept only one coffin at a time and
all remains are removed before the unit can be used again. The
identity card referred to previously accompanies the coffin and
cremated remains throughout the process until final disposal. The
code of ethics and practical necessity are complementary and
combine to ensure that the separation of cremated remains is
achieved.
Cremated Remains
Do relatives need to decide by the time of cremation about the
disposal of cremated remains?
The Funeral Director will discuss with relatives the alternative
arrangements which may be adopted for the disposal of cremated
remains. It is likely that a form of authority will be required to
be signed advising the crematorium of the wishes of the family. If
they are undecided it will be possible foe the cremated remains to
be retained, either at the crematorium or at the Funeral Director's
premises, pending a decision.
How are cremated remains treated at the crematorium?
Cremated remains are removed from the cremator only when no
further reduction is possible. The remains are withdrawn into a
cooling area and finally into a special container for transfer to a
purpose-made unit which, after removal of ferrous metals, will
reduce the residue to a fine consistency suitable for storage and
eventual disposal. The remains are enclosed in a suitable and
carefully identified container to await dispersal or
collection.
What quantity of remains will there be following a
cremation?
The cremation of an adult will normally result in the
presentation of cremated remains weighing between 2 and 4 kg. In
the case of a body of an infant it may not be possible to guarantee
that any remains will be collectable. This is due to the
cartilaginous nature of the bone structure.
What are the normal options for disposal of cremated
remains?
All crematoria provide a Garden of Remembrance where cremated
remains can be dispersed. Some crematoria provide niches where
containers may be placed for limited periods. Cremated remains can
be removed from the crematorium in a suitable container for
disposal elsewhere. This may included interment in a grave in a
cemetery or churchyard, dispersal at another crematorium or
dispersal privately in a particular area selected by the family.
Suitable permission should be obtained from the appropriate
authority in these cases.
What is a Garden of Remembrance and what facilities may be
provided there?
The Gardens of Remembrance consists of special areas, often
adjacent to the crematorium, set aside for the disposal of cremated
remains. They are used continually for this purpose and, as a
result, it may not be possible or appropriate to mark or identify
the exact location of individual cremated remains. The Gardens are
normally arranged to provide a focal point for visitors and may
include a variety of memorial facilities.
What memorial facilities are available at crematoria?
All crematoria have some form pf memorial facility. The most
usual form of permanent memorial is the Book of Remembrance. The
book(s) is usually displayed in a special room of remembrance and
entries are available for viewing either automatically on the
anniversary of the date of death or on request. Some crematoria
provide wall or kerb-mounted plaques in stone or metal, although
these are normally purchased for a limited period only. Roses,
trees and shrubs may be dedicated at some crematoria for periods
which may be extended by agreement. Donations are often accepted
for the provision of items to be used at the crematorium or for the
embellishment of the buildings or grounds. The Funeral Director
should be aware of the memorial options available but direct
enquiries to the Crematorium Office will ensure that the full
details are provided together with a scale of charges.
What happens to be cremated remains strewn on the ground?
The cremated remains, which have assumed a granular form, are
normally distributed over a wide area of ground. Chemical reactions
resulting from exposure to the elements quickly breaking down the
remains so that within a few days little trace of them can be
observed. Some crematoria follow the practice of dressing the area
where the cremated remains have been dispersed with a suitable
mixture of loam and sand.
Can cremated remains be interred and their position marked with
a memorial?
The Gardens of Remembrance attached to a crematorium do not
provide for the erection of permanent memorials. Cremated remains
interred in Gardens of Remembrance are not normally contained in a
casket or container of any kind. If it is required to inter
cremated remains in a grave with traditional facilities for
memorialisation, suitable enquiries should be made to the
Manager/Registrar responsible for the cemetery.
Can cremated remains be retained by the family pending final
disposal?
The Applicant for cremation may collect and retain the cremated
remains if required. Cremated remains can be retained at the
crematorium for a limited period although a charge may be made for
this facility.
