Cremation services

Order of service

Cremations have a 30-minute time slot - 20 minutes service plus 5 minutes for entry and 5 minutes for exit.

Before the service

Mourners will normally gather at the crematorium close to the entrance to the chapel for a few minutes before the appointed time of the funeral service.

During the service

The service normally takes 20 minutes, unless extra time has been booked in advance. 

When the principal mourners are ready to proceed, the coffin is usually brought into the chapel by bearers from the funeral director or the family. While it is being placed on the catafalque (raised platform), the mourners take their seats and the service proceeds. 

When the committal takes place, the coffin will be obscured from view by the closing of the curtains and the coffin will pass through the catafalque door into the committal room adjacent to the chapel. 

There is an option of leaving the coffin on view until all the mourners have left the chapel, and this should be agreed with the funeral director and officiate. 

After the service

The cremation will take place as soon as possible after the service. However, this can be up to 72 hours after the service in extreme circumstances.

Funeral tributes are removed before the crematorium is open to the public.

Services held onFuneral tributes removed on
Monday 7am on the Thursday
Tuesday7am on the Friday
Wednesday to Friday7am on the Monday


Please note: Breakspear Crematorium cannot be held responsible for any floral tributes places within the grounds. 

Page last updated: 24 Mar 2023