Burial Services
What does a Burial Service involve?
For a burial, the service may take place at the graveside, in a church or chapel on the site, or even at a different location entirely with the burial taking place following the service.
We would usually either meet you at the service venue or at home before proceeding to the venue. The coffin will be taken into the venue and the service will take place. At the end, the coffin is carried to the grave and placed onto the putlogs. When it is time the coffin will be lowered into the grave. This is something that the family or friends can participate in if they wish. They may need to sign an indemnity form though.
Once the coffin is lowered, the bearers will step aside as the committal concludes. After the committal is over, you will be offered the opportunity to strew soil, petals, sprigs or flowers into the grave.
Once you are ready we will then take you to the venue of your gathering afterwards or home.
After we have all left, the gravedigger will backfill the grave, placing any floral tributes on top along with a grave marker.
It can take over 6 months for the ground to settle enough to install a memorial so no need to rush to make arrangements for this. Different cemeteries have different restrictions on what you can have as a memorial.
Buying a plot
We personally recommend that if you have intentions of arranging a burial in the future for yourself or another, that you look into purchasing a plot ahead of time if your chosen cemetery allows. This will help protect you against possible price rises, allow buying multiple plots next to each other, and avoid disappointment if the cemetery becomes full.
You can’t purchase plots in a churchyard, but usually you can in council owned or private cemeteries. Costs vary greatly from place to place.
Required paperwork
In order to arrange the service we will need to obtain or complete the following documents to submit to the church or cemetery manager:
Registrar’s Certificate for Burial or Cremation
Known as the ‘Green Form’, this is either given to you at your appointment to register the death or sent to us directly following that appointment.
Coroners Order for Burial
This form replaces the Green Form if the Coroner is involved. This form is usually sent directly to us.
Cemetery Form
Most council or privately owned cemeteries will require a form to be completed for a new grave or re-opening of an existing plot.
If you already have a plot and the Exclusive Rights of Burial, you will need to produce the Deed or other evidence in order for the burial to take place.
For a churchyard, generally there is no paperwork needed other than the Green Form/Order for Burial.