How Crematoriums Are Changing

Crematoriums are finally getting a much-needed makeover

It’s time to take another look at crematoriums as so many have made positive changes to provide a more uplifting experience.

New Look, New Feel

The gloomy rooms, tinny music and hurried services are making way for airy, elegant and uplifting spaces. And alongside their changing look, there also seems to be a new attitude towards this type of farewell.

Cremation is often chosen as it offers an alternative to a religious ceremony, often in a place of worship. In the past, this could mean a compromise and accepting a less personal farewell. But nowadays, a cremation service need not be the reluctant choice. Whether looking for simplicity or something less stuffy, many crematoriums have a modern touch that reflects the changing times. 

Harbour View’s Private Gardens

Take Harbour View in Dorset, with its own crematorium on a beautiful burial site. Built on farmland teaming with wildlife, with far reaching views across the hills of Purbeck to Poole Harbour, it is locations like this that are leading the way and shaking up the whole funeral industry.

The influence of places like Harbour View is starting to be reflected in even the most simple council-run crematoriums. Now, instead of the one-size-fits-all approach of yesteryear, many of these sites are starting to offer a much more individual service.

The Rise of Direct Cremation

Top of the list of changes is the rise of direct cremation, where no family or friends are present at the cremation and instead the ashes are returned for a personal burial or memorial service at a later date.

Once seen as simply a cost-saving option – and it is indeed a way to save – they are now regarded as a legitimate choice for those who want to do things their way.

The trendsetter who led the way on this was David Bowie. After his death in 2016, the Ashes to Ashes singer was reportedly cremated without any of his family or friends present after telling loved ones he did not want a funeral service. His ashes were scattered on the Indonesian island of Bali.

Now, according to SunLife’s Cost of Dying report, direct cremations account for 19% of cremations and 14% of all funerals (up from 3% last year) in the UK, marking an almost five-fold annual rise.

There are other influences as well. The rise in popularity of natural burial sites, the increase in more ‘individual’ funeral services and the slowly changing attitudes towards death –  with many more like us at whiteballoon talking openly and positively about end of life  – have all given crematoriums a wake-up call.

The Future is Green

With a brand new crematorium currently being built in Plymouth and Memoria’s award-winning facility in South Oxfordshire opening just a few years ago, among many new and improved sites, change is happening. Modern electric cremators reduce carbon output and new technology filters out harmful pollutants. Also, much more thought is given to how buildings can blend with natural surroundings, with careful landscaping, wild meadows and wooded areas promoting bio-diversity.

A detailed look at Plymouth’s new crematorium

Adaptable and Culturally Inclusive

Whilst civil crematoriums are religiously neutral spaces, most public and private sites provide a range of religious iconography that can be displayed on request; for example, a cross, the Sikh Ek Onkar or the Hindu Aum (Om).  Some, too, have amenities that cater to the specific needs of different faiths, such as hand-washing facilities and separate spaces for the rituals of Sikh and Hindu funerals. Specially designed sites, with multiple interconnecting spaces to accommodate much larger numbers of people and rooms with glass fronted walls to allow mourners to witness the charging of coffin, reflect a growing awareness of the needs of local populations.

At their best, the new style crematoriums are versatile, inclusive and sensitive to new and old ideas around the rituals of death. So, if you find yourself planning a funeral, consider finding out more about the crematoriums near you.

Frequently Asked Questions