Facilities

Alford Crematorium has been designed and built to offer the bereaved the highest standards in modern cremation services.

The chapel

This is a beautiful space with tall windows on both sides which are not overlooked. It seats 80 people in a comfortable, dignified and elegant environment. The chapel is fitted with bi-fold doors to the entrance lobby and waiting room to allow the space to be extended when larger congregations are expected. The chapel is not adorned with any religous symbols, making it suitable for all beliefs. We can place a plain cross in the chapel if this is wished. If you have any religious symbols that you wish to display in the chapel during your service, we will do our best to accommodate your requests.

Music

We understand that for many people music is a vitally important part of a funeral. We are also aware that there are many different ways that people wish to use music in funeral services. We have installed a state of the art music system to provide superb acoustics and a wide range of options. There is an organ, for those who choose to employ an organist. For those who would prefer to listen to church music but do not wish to employ an organist there is a hymnal, which plays superb quality electronic hymns with or without a choir accompaniment. There is the facility for staff to play music from cd's, as requested by those organising a funeral. There is also an mp3 link at the back of the chapel so that a member of the congregation can play special recordings or compilations. Other suggestions will be accommodated wherever possible, such as a live musician or group playing. There is also a microphone fitted to the lectern and a hearing loop installed for the hard of hearing. The music system can be relayed into the entrance lobby and waiting room when these are incorporated into the chapel, ensuring excellent sound quality whatever the size of the congregation.

Cremation Facilities

Alford crematorium is fitted with one fully abated FTIII cremator. We believe this offers the best performing, cleanest cremation solution at present. The FTIII cremator has the capacity to cremate larger caskets of up to around 40" wide, preventing further distress to the bereaved. Caskets are placed into the pre-heated cremator after the service has taken place. Generally this will happen immediatly after the service, but it will always be undertaken on the same day. Immediately the casket will ignite and after around 90 minutes cremation will be complete. All the remains will be removed from the cremator, and will be further processed and poured mechanically into a cremated remains casket. All coffins will be accompanied by a nameplate, and every person allocated a cremation number which will be placed on the cremator during the cremation. This documentation will then be kept with the cremated remains casket, ensuring that remains are always correctly identified and kept separate. It is important to some faiths to see the casket entering the cremator. If you wish to arrange this please contact a member of staff who will arrange this for you.

The Wreath Court

The wreath court provides an undercover area to view floral and plaque memorials, and provides space for families to leave floral tributes. Any floral tributes arriving with the casket will be taken by the funeral director and placed in the wreath court by a sign with the name of the deceased. They will remain available for viewing for at least two days, unless the family have request they be used as chapel decoration, in which case they may be placed in the chapel the day following the funeral. Families are welcome to leave floral tributes in the designated area of the wreath court. There is space for wreaths and also vases and water are available for cut flowers. Unfortunately no other items may be left and floral tributes may not be left in any other areas. This is to maintain the attractiveness and tranquility of the grounds. Floral tributes will be disposed of when they begin to look untidy, after not less than two days. Items which are left and are deemed inappropriate will be disposed of immediately. This stance may cause disquiet to some people, but is in accordance with the wishes of the majority.