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Q: How many people use cremation today in
Great Britain?
A: 1968 was the year in which the number of cremations exceeded disposal
by burial for the first time, since when the proportion has increased and
now approaches 70% of all funerals.
Q: Are there any religious groups which forbid cremations to their
members.
A: Yes. Today all Christian denominations, including the Roman Catholic
Church, allow cremation but it is forbidden by Orthodox Jews and Moslems.
It is the normal method for Sikhs, Hindus, Parsees and Buddhists.
Q: Is cremation dearer than burial?
A: No. Generally the cost of a grave can be higher than the fee charged
for cremation. The funeral director’s charges are much the same for both
services. The only additional charge for cremation arises when the death
has not been referred to the Coroner, therefore fees to two doctors have
to be paid for the necessary certificates. This does not apply to burial.
With cremation there are no later costs for headstones, grave care, etc
which arise with burial.
Q: What religious ceremony can I have with cremation?
A: The service for burial and cremation is the same apart from the form of
committal sentences and the service may take place in one’s own church or
chapel with a short committal service in the crematorium chapel. You may
arrange for your own minister to conduct the service. The form of the
service should be arranged with the minister and if hymns are to be sung
the musical requirements must be arranged.
Q: Must there be any religious ceremony with cremation?
A: No. This is not obligatory. A civil ceremony can be conducted or there
may be none at all. On occasions a memorial service is conducted
separately from the cremation ceremony.
Q: How is a cremation arranged?
A: The Cremation Regulations are still quite complicated and it is wisest
to approach a funeral director immediately death occurs and advise him
that you desire to arrange for a cremation. Discuss with him how soon you
wish the cremation to take place and whom you wish to officiate at the
services, also the form of service. The funeral director will than do all
that is needed to procure the necessary statutory forms for the cremation.
You will need to sign the statutory form A if you are the executor or the
next of kin or are authorised by either to do so. The death will have to
be registered and you will be advised how to do this.
Q: Do I have to sign anything else at this stage?
A: You will probably be asked how you wish to dispose of the cremation
ashes. If you know what you want at this stage, you will be asked to sign
an authority for the cremation to carry out your wishes. If you are
undecided, DO NOT sign any authority. Most crematoria or funeral directors
will retain cremation ashes for a moth, giving you time to make a
decision.
Q: What can happen to the cremation ashes then?
A: In 80% of cases the cremation ashes are strewn or buried in the gardens
of remembrance at the crematorium. A few crematoria have niches where urns
may be placed but these are usually on a rental basis and if not renewed
periodically the ashes would be strewn or buried. The alternative is to
remove cremation ashes from the crematorium in a suitable urn for disposal
elsewhere. This may be by burial in a family grave or by strewing the
ashes at another crematorium or in some favourite spot. However, it must
be borne in mind that when ashes are strewn in other places, e.g. graves,
churchyards, etc, prior permission must be sought and any local rules or
regulations obeyed.
Q: What are the Gardens of Remembrance at a crematorium?
A: The gardens of remembrance consists of areas set aside for the disposal
of cremation ashes. Usually these areas have been dedicated for the
purpose by representatives of the Christian Churches. Ashes may be strewn
or buried, but without any spot being reserved to any one person, nor are
individual memorials permitted in such gardens to mark the spot. This is
because the areas are used again and again over the years and will be for
as long as the crematorium is in operation.
Q: What memorials are possible then at the crematorium?
A: Usually the only permanent form of the memorial available is an entry
in the Book of Remembrance. This book usually displayed in a special
Memorial Chapel and each day the entries for the day are on display so
that a person is remembered on the anniversary of the death. Some
crematoria allow wall plaques or plaques on kerbstones, etc, but these are
usually for a limited period and require to be renewed periodically by
further payments. At some crematoria it is also possible to dedicate a
rose bush or other garden item with a small plaque but this again is for a
limited period with the option of renewal on further payment. Again some
crematoria are able to accept donations such as seats, stain-glassed
windows etc, where a memorial inscription may be permitted while others
have memorial funds to which relatives can make donations and the monies
are used to provide additional embellishments for the grounds or
buildings. If you are anxious about memorial facilities at the crematorium
you should enquire of the funeral director at the time of making
arrangements, in order to ascertain what facilities are available. This
can avoid disappointment at a later date.
Q: What append at the crematorium on the day of the funeral?
A: The coffin is usually brought into the chapel followed by the mourners
in procession. While it is being placed on the catafalque the mourners
take their seats and the service proceeds. At the moment when the
committal of the body takes place the coffin may be obscured from the view
by means of curtains closing around the catafalque or the coffin may be
withdrawn through a gateway or it may be lowered from the catafalque and
descend into the committal room below. The method today is the use of
curtains. At the end of the service mourners leave the chapel and may
inspect the floral tributes before leaving.
Q: What happens to the coffin after the committal?
A: It is withdrawn into a committal room where a name plate of the coffin
is checked with the cremation order to ensure correct identity. The coffin
is labelled with a card prepared by the crematorium giving all relevant
information. This card will stay with the body from now on until the final
disposal of the cremation ashes.
Q: Does the cremation take place immediately or are the coffins stored up
until a number are ready to be cremated?
A: Where possible the cremation will follow immediately after the service.
The Code of Cremation Practice which is adhered to by the members of the
federation of British Crematorium Authorities requires that the cremation
shall take place on the same day as the crematorium service.
Q: Is the coffin cremated with the body?
A: Yes. The Codes requires that nothing must be removed from the coffin
after it has been received from the chapel and it must be placed into the
cremator exactly as required.
Q: What happens about the handles and other coffin fittings?
A: Crematorium regulations require that all fittings shall be combustible
material and normally the handles and name plate are today made of hard
plastic. Ferrous nails and screws do not burn and stay with the ashes
until they are withdrawn from the cremator when they are subjected to a
magnetic field which removes them.
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