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. In Sunderland over  75% of all recorded deaths are now followed by a cremation service.

Are there any religious groups which forbid cremation to their members?

Yes, it is forbidden by Orthodox Jews and Muslims.

Is cremation more expensive than burial?

No, the funeral directors fees are much the same for both services. Generally the cost of burial is much higher than the fee charged for cremation but cremation usually necessitates the production of medical certificates for which fees are payable to the doctors concerned. These certificates are not required when the death has been referred to and investigated by a Coroner (Procurator Fiscal in Scotland), or when burial is required, although in this case, in addition to the charges for internment, a number of other fees for grave purchase, memorials and grave maintenance may be incurred.

What service arrangements are available at the crematorium?

A full religious service may be conducted at the crematorium within the time allowed for each funeral. Alternatively, a service may take place at 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. 

Is it necessary for the cremation to be associated with a religious ceremony?

The deceased 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.

How is 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 statutory and non statutory forms. The Funeral Director will make the practical arrangements for the collection of the body and will obtain the necessary Medical Certificates. It will be necessary to register the death and information will be provided by the Funeral Director to assist in completing that duty.

What are the options for Disposal of cremated remains?

The Funeral Director will discuss with the relatives the alternative arrangements which may be adopted for the disposal of cremated remains. The Applicant for Cremation can specify whether the cremated remains are 

a) 'Retained' - ,  where the family intend that the remains are to be removed from Sunderland Crematorium for scattering or burial elsewhere,  or where the family wish to view the strewing of the cremated remains at Sunderland Crematorium

b) 'Scattered' - to be strewn in the Crematorium Grounds. Due to the restricted space available for the disposal of cremated remains, the Authority reserves the right to bury the cremated remains in the Crematorium Grounds.

If they are undecided it will be possible for the cremated remains to be retained, either at the crematorium or at the Funeral Director's premises, pending decision.

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 include internment in a grave in a cemetery or churchyard, disposal 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 the Garden of Remembrance and what facilities may be provided there?

The Gardens of Remembrance consist 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 of memorial facility. The most usual form of permanent memorial is the Book of Remembrance. This book is usually displayed in a special memorial chapel and the entries are available for viewing either automatically or on the anniversary date. 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 full details are provided together with a scale of charges.

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 of 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 until the publicised time. When the principle 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 the mourners will be directed to their seats after which the service will proceed. A t 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 exit the chapel and may then inspect the floral tributes.

What happens to the coffin after the committal?

The coffin is withdrawn into the committal room where the name plate 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.

Can relatives witness the committal of the coffin to the cremator?

The reception of the coffin into the committal room and its introduction into a cremator can be witnessed by arrangements with the Cremation Registrar. It is preferable to advise the Funeral Director of these requirements as early as possible when making the funeral arrangements.

Is the cremation of a body governed by a code of ethics and working practices?

Cremation Authorities may choose to operate in accordance with a Code of Cremation Practice or Guiding Principles for Burial and Cremation  These codes provide ethical standards of cremation practice in Great Britain.  

How soon after the service will the cremation take place?

The cremation will usually commence shortly after the service, however the above codes of practice permit the cremation of a coffin to be delayed where it will allow the crematorium to operate more efficiently. The cremators at Sunderland Crematorium are electrically heated and are designed to be pre-heated overnight on ‘greener’ off-peak power. However this frequently means that they may be standing ‘idle’ for several hours awaiting the first funeral of the day, followed by a period of intense use to deal with the afternoon services. To minimise energy usage the cremation of coffins from late afternoon services may be delayed until the following morning. 

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 or viewing purposes 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 in respect of this matter when the funeral arrangements are being 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 that the next of kin has made a specific request in this regard.

What happens to the cremated remains after cremation?

At the conclusion of a cremation the cremated remains are removed in their entirety 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 of in accordance with the requirements of the Code of the Cremation Practice and invariably this will be by burial in the crematorium grounds. 

What procedures are followed to ensure that cremation remains are kept separate?

A cremator can only physically accept 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 an practical necessity are complimentary and combine to ensure that the separation of cremated remains is achieved.

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 the removal of ferrous metals, will reduce the residue to a fine consistency suitable for storage and eventful disposal. The remains are enclosed in a suitable and carefully identified container to await dispersal and collection.

What quantities 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 4kg. 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 happens to the cremated remains strewn on the ground?

The cremated remains, which have assumed a granular form, are normally strewn in the Garden of Remembrance. Chemical reactions resulting from exposure to the elements quickly break 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.

Due to the limited area of the dispersal of cremated remains at Sunderland those cremated remains are buried in the Crematorium Grounds or in the adjoining Bishopwearmouth Cemetery as provided by the Cremation Regulations 16 "...in the absence of any special arrangement for their burial or preservation, they shall either be decently interred in a burial ground or in land adjoining the crematorium reserved for the burial of ashes, or shall be scattered thereon."

Can cremated remains be interred and their position marked with a memorial?

The Gardens of Remembrance attached to the crematorium do not provide for the erection of permanent memorials. Cremated remains interred in the Garden 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 memorisation, suitable enquiries should be made to the Registrar responsible for the selected 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.

What arrangements can be made to ensure that cremation is the selected method of disposal following death?

Clear instructions 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 any further questions and make arrangements for any member of the public to be accompanied on a visit to the crematorium. 

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last updated 30/07/07