These expectations have been drawn up to ensure that York crematorium is managed and utilised in a sensitive and appropriate fashion for everybody. These are communal spaces for quiet reflection and the remembrance of loved ones.
York crematorium staff are available to assist and advise during office hours, ensuring that information is available to the bereaved, Funeral Directors, officiants and other relevant persons, as well as members of the public.
We crematorium welcomes all visitors to the crematorium and gardens of remembrance and asks that visitors respect the peace, dignity and reverence of these facilities and act with consideration for other users.
The expectations aim to balance the requirements of individuals with the maintenance of a safe and orderly environment, whilst also promoting good stewardship of the natural environment, both locally and more broadly.
- Management of the crematorium and gardens of remembrance
- Opening hours
- Funerals
- Cremation paperwork
- Music
- Cremation services
- Bearing of the coffin
- Clothing and coffin content
- Holding over
- Witnessed charged funerals
- Coffin construction
- Recycling metals
- Disposal of cremated remains
- Donations collections
- Floral tributes and flowers
- Memorialisation
- Data control
- Amendments
Management of the crematorium and gardens of remembrance
All persons within York crematorium shall conduct themselves in a decent, quiet and orderly manner.
Visitors to York crematorium shall not unreasonably interrupt the duties of the staff or contractors, nor employ them to execute private work within the grounds, nor extend to them any gratuity.
All complaints and requests by members of the public must be made to the York crematorium office and not to workers employed in the crematorium or Gardens of remembrance.
No dogs are permitted within the crematorium except assistance dogs. An exception can be made for pet dogs of the deceased or their immediate family where their presence at a service would be of special sentiment. Contact York crematorium for confirmation before attendance.
Dogs are permitted in the gardens of remembrance but must be kept on a lead at all times.
Children who are or appear to be under the age of 16 must be accompanied in the crematorium and gardens of remembrance by a responsible adult.
No person other than York crematorium staff members shall sell or expose for sale any article, commodity, or item of any kind whatsoever, or solicit orders for the same, within the crematorium or gardens of remembrance except with explicit consent from the Bereavement Services Manager.
Any person using a motor vehicle within the York crematorium premises shall do so only on a carriageway suited to the purpose. Vehicles must be driven with care and at an appropriately slow speed. Priority must be given to funeral vehicles and parking must not restrict access to other road users. No unauthorised vehicle may be left overnight within the York crematorium premises.
No person shall drop, throw or otherwise deposit and leave in the crematorium or gardens of remembrance any wastepaper or litter of any kind except in the receptacles provided for the purpose.
The capture of photographs, video or sound recordings within the crematorium shall be subject to the approval of the Bereavement Services Manager, who may demand production of an indemnity in the facility’s favour where it is proposed to record a private service.
Smoking is entirely prohibited in both the buildings and the grounds of York crematorium. This includes the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or vapes).
Opening hours
Access to the York crematorium premises is:
- Gardens of Remembrance and Chapel of Remembrance - Summer (April to August) Monday to Saturday 9.00am to 8.00pm, Sundays and public holidays 10.00am to 8.00pm. Winter (September to March) Monday to Saturday 9.00am to dusk, Sundays and public holidays 10.00am to dusk
- Crematorium Office - Monday to Friday 9.00am to 4.00pm. Closed weekends and public holidays
Funerals
All funerals shall be at the direction of York crematorium staff once the cortege enters the premises.
York crematorium reserves the right to exclude from the premises any persons who are not mourners or persons directly involved with a funeral at the crematorium. Such a right may be exercised by the Bereavement Services Manager and/or their agents (including the Police). York crematorium also reserves the right to exclude any person causing a disturbance or using threatening behaviour.
York crematorium may, at their discretion, postpone a funeral if it appears that the cortege is so delayed that other funerals may be disrupted, or at the reasonable request of the Applicant or funeral arranger. York crematorium shall specify the arrangements for carrying out the postponed funeral after consultation with the Applicant or Funeral Director’s representative.
Any delay may incur a fee. The same fee will also be applicable if a funeral service overruns sufficiently to delay the start of a subsequent service.
The collection of charitable donations at a funeral is permissible under the management of the Applicant or Funeral Director. York crematorium bears no responsibility for donations collected on the premises.
If the services of a Funeral Director are not being used a wheeled bier can be made available in the crematorium. The Applicant or Funeral Arranger will need to provide sufficient bearers to convey the coffin from the hearse into the Chapel in a dignified manner and place it onto the catafalque.
The office should be notified in advance if it is known that a service will be a large gathering (100 or over), is running late, or if unusual modes of transport are expected (such as horse-drawn cortege, buses or fire engines) so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Cremation paperwork
Fully completed statutory and other required paperwork must be delivered to the office no later than one working day before the day of the funeral. Any difficulties in providing the required paperwork on time should be communicated directly to the office. Late submission may incur a fee. The initial telephone or internet booking remains provisional until the office receives and checks the corresponding York crematorium Application for Cremation form. Failure to comply may mean the cremation is postponed.
Music
All music, visual tributes, webcasting and recording requirements must be booked at least three working days before the service via www.obitus.com. It's advised to order music as soon as possible.
Any music requests received late cannot be guaranteed, though we'll endeavour to facilitate them. York crematorium accepts no responsibility for incorrect music instructions received from the Funeral Director.
Please note: If no music preferences have been received staff may select something they consider appropriate.
Cremation services
All forms of religious or secular service are permitted in White Rose & Ebor chapel. These are 40-minute slots which allows for 25 to 30 minutes service maximum time.
The time appointed for a service corresponds to the point at which the funeral service should start.
Service allocations are available every weekday excluding Public Holidays. Saturday allocations are available between 9.30am and 12.30pm with correspondingly appropriate adjustments to charges.
Cremations shall be carried out in accordance with all statutory legislation and the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities’ (FBCA) Code of Cremation Practice.
Full Service or Committal
Use of the crematorium for a Full Service or Committal is allocated for a period of 40 minutes. This includes time taken for mourners to enter and exit and allows for a service time of up to a maximum of 25 to 30 minutes in the chapels. If a longer service is required additional time in the chapels will need to be booked in advance.
Direct Cremations will only be accepted subject to adherence to the following:
- no mourners will be in attendance (including car park)
- arrival will be at the scheduled diary times 8.15am, 8.30am and 8.45am
- a smart, clean and appropriate vehicle will be used
- all attending staff are uniformed
- sufficient bearers to convey the coffin to the catafalque in a dignified manner are provided. (Use of trolley or bier is permitted)
- all coffins will enter the crematorium through the main chapel doors and be respectfully placed on the catafalque by the Funeral Director's staff
York crematorium reserves the right to refuse any coffin if staff feel the standards of care and dignity are not met.
Bearing of the coffin
Responsibility of whether to bear in the coffin or use an appropriate trolley or wheeled bier lies with the Funeral Director. It is the Funeral Director’s responsibility to provide sufficient bearers to place the coffin on the catafalque without assistance from York crematorium staff. Health and Safety and Manual Handling considerations are a priority and the Funeral Director is responsible for carrying appropriate risk assessments prior to arrival at the crematorium.
Use of York crematorium trolley or wheeled bier is permitted by agreement of the chapel attendant. It remains the Funeral Director’s responsibility to ensure the trolley or bier is suitable for the safe and dignified conveyance of the coffin.
Clothing and coffin content
To minimise the release of pollutants to air, where possible, any prostheses should be removed from the deceased.
Glass, ceramics, or any other such substances should not be placed within the coffin.
Footwear or any material manufactured from polyvinyl-chloride (PVC) should also not be placed in the coffin.
Body adornments made from copper should be removed from the deceased, as should casts made from plaster or any other material.
Heart pacemakers and other implanted medical devices must be removed from the deceased prior to arrival at the crematorium.
Holding over
York crematorium is a member of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) and adheres to the joint guidance on holding over issued by the ICCM, FBCA, APCC and CSGB. ‘Holding over’ is the retention of a coffin for a period of time after the cremation service. The practice of holding over is common throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
York crematorium will not hold over where the Applicant insists on the cremation being carried out on the day that the coffin is received at the crematorium and/or the service takes place. A written request to this effect must be made to York crematorium no later than three working days prior to the service taking place.
If holding over becomes additionally necessary due to mechanical failure during normal operating hours then York crematorium will inform the Applicant via the Funeral Director and either gain consent to hold over until the fault is repaired or to allow for the cremation to take place at an alternative crematorium. If this situation occurs outside normal operating hours and it is considered impracticable to obtain the consent of the Applicant, holding over may be arranged as a temporary solution.
York crematorium has suitable storage conditions for extended holding over, but the maximum period for which holding over may normally occur is 72 hours after receipt of the coffin at the crematorium.
Witnessed charged funerals
Representatives of the deceased may, by prior arrangement, witness the coffin being placed into the cremator chamber. The maximum viewing capacity of the witnessing room is approximately four persons.
York crematorium must be informed of the wish for a witnessed charge at the point of booking of the cremation to ensure staff have time to make the necessary preparations to facilitate this provision.
Witnessed charges are preferred to be the first service of the day but are available at other times at the Bereavement Services Managers discretion. Contact York crematorium for further details.
Witnesses must, at all times, follow the instructions of the York crematorium staff or proceedings may be halted.
Coffin construction
The maximum permitted weight of the coffin is at the discretion of the Bereavement Services Manager.
The maximum dimensions of the coffin, including all fittings, is 90 inch (229cm) long and 40 inch (102 cm) wide. Height 24 inches (61cm).
The coffin must be made of wood or a wood by-product which, when placed in the cremator and subjected to the accepted cremation process, is easily combustible and does not emit smoke, give off toxic gas or leave any retardant smears or drips after final combustion. No metal of any kind shall be used in the manufacture of such coffin except as necessary for its safe construction and then only metal of a high ferrous content. Cross pieces must not be attached to the bottom of the coffin. If it is desired to strengthen the bottom of the coffin, wooden strips may be placed lengthways for this purpose. Cardboard coffins should not contain chlorine in the wet strength agent (for example, not using polyamidoamine-epichlorohydrin basin resin) (PAA-E). External coatings to a coffin must allow for smokeless combustion and the use of nitro-cellose varnish, polyurethane, melamine and any products containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) must not be used. Water based lacquer free from additives containing heavy metals may be used for coating a coffin or a suitable cloth may be used for covering the coffin. The exception to the foregoing is the use of polystyrene, which is restricted to the coffin name plate only, and this must not exceed 90g in weight.
Zinc- or lead-lined coffins will not be accepted for cremation. Packaging for stillbirth, neonatal and foetal remains must not include any chlorinated plastics.
The use of sawdust, cotton-wool or shredded paper must be avoided. If circumstances require, suitable sealing material may be used, but no metal, rubber or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) will be permitted and on no account must pitch or similar substance be used.
We do not accept banana-leaf or sea-grass coffins.
Recycling metals
York crematorium participates in a nationwide scheme to sensitively recycle residual metal. All surplus monies derived from the recycling scheme will be distributed amongst selected charities. Metal residues from the cremation process will be sent to be recycled unless otherwise stated on the York crematorium Application for Cremation form.
Disposal of cremated remains
Responsibility for the disposal of cremated remains lies with the Applicant or person with written authorisation to act on behalf of the Applicant. York crematorium will act in accordance with the written instructions of the Applicant on the statutory cremation forms.
Cremated remains that are to be removed from the crematorium shall only be collected by the Applicant or a person nominated by the Applicant, including the Funeral Director. Any alteration to the original instruction must be confirmed by the Applicant, in writing and signed, before York crematorium has carried out the original instruction.
Cremated remains may only be removed in a container deemed by York crematorium to be suitable for that purpose.
Collection of cremated remains by Funeral Directors or the Applicant or nominated person should be within the opening hours of the York crematorium office.
Cremated remains will be retained at York crematorium free of charge for no longer than one month after cremation. Cremated remains may be stored for a longer period by prior arrangement and after payment of the appropriate fee. On the approach to expiry of this period, or the longer arranged period, if no further arrangements have been made for removal York crematorium will request instructions from the Applicant. If no instructions are received within the timeframe specified in the current Cremation (England and Wales) Regulations 2008 (14 days), the uncollected remains will be scattered in the gardens of remembrance at York crematorium, with the location of scattering recorded.
Unwitnessed scatterings of cremated remains will take place no sooner than 28 days after cremation. Unwitnessed scatterings of cremated remains where the cremation took place at York crematorium will incur no additional charge.
The Applicant may make an appointment to witness the scattering of cremated remains for an additional charge. All such scatterings must take place during normal York crematorium office opening hours and in the presence of a York crematorium member of staff.
Where a cremation took place at another crematorium, the cremated remains, Certificate of Cremation, and appropriate payment must be delivered to the York crematorium office, along with appropriate written authorisation from the Applicant before a scattering can take place.
For details of interment options for cremated remains contact the York crematorium office.
Donations collections
York crematorium can provide a donations collection dish for each service at the request of the funeral organiser (Funeral Director or Applicant), but it is the responsibility of the funeral organiser to retrieve all donations at the end of the service. York crematorium will not process or be responsible for any donations.
Floral tributes and flowers
No artificial flowers of any kind (including wreaths) are permitted in the gardens of remembrance. An exception is made solely for Remembrance Day.
Following a funeral service floral tributes should be placed in front of the appropriately named stand or metal rack. Any tributes left elsewhere will be removed.
York crematorium encourages all Applicants and Funeral Directors to take tributes away after a service.
Remaining tributes will be moved at the end generally for a minimum of three working days. After this time they will be assessed for disposal, taking into account natural decay, effects of weather and the activity of wildlife. Where possible, natural materials will be removed for repurposing or composting and plastics for recycling.
On special occasions (Mothering Sunday, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Easter Sunday, Remembrance Day and Christmas) exemptions may be made to allow the display of tributes for longer periods at the Bereavement Services Manager’s discretion.
Please note: We accept no responsibility for tributes left within the grounds. However, York crematorium does reserve the right at any time to remove, without notice, any flowers, plants or tributes that are deemed to have deteriorated, been damaged or become unsightly.
Cut flowers, without wrappers or bindings, may be left on site.
Receptacles for flowers placed on or formed in the ground are not permitted. Such items will be removed and/or filled immediately.
York crematorium has a structured grounds maintenance programme. The private planting of trees, plants, shrubs and bulbs is prohibited. Any such planted items will be removed and appropriately replanted within the City of York Council boundary where feasible.
Releases
In line with our attention to being good stewards of the natural environment, York crematorium does not permit the release of doves, butterflies, or other animal life, or of balloons, floating lanterns or similar as part of or after a funeral service.
Memorialisation
A range of memorialisation options are available to be purchased in accordance with the York crematorium policies and fees applicable at the time. Please contact the York crematorium office for more details.
Only memorials purchased directly from and fitted by York crematorium will be permitted in the memorial grounds.
The placing of personalised memorabilia (including, but not limited to: wind chimes; balloons; wooden crosses; ornaments; toys) in the memorial grounds, including placed on or attached to any benches, is not permitted and any such items will be removed by York crematorium without notice.
No glass or plastic ornamentations of any kind are permitted within the gardens of remembrance. Any such items will be considered a safety or environmental hazard and immediately removed by York crematorium without notice.
York crematorium does not accept responsibility for any items left within the gardens of remembrance. Items are left entirely at your own risk.
Data control
Your privacy is very important to York crematorium. We are committed to respecting and protecting your privacy during all interactions with York crematorium staff and during all use of the York crematorium facilities and services.
View the York Crematorium Privacy Notice.
Amendments
Please be aware that York crematorium reserves the right to amend these policies and procedures whenever it deems necessary and that compliance with any changes is required. The most up to date version of these policies and procedures will always be this digital version available here on our website.
Also see
- York Crematorium
- Arranging a funeral
- Public health funerals
- The cremation process at York Crematorium
- York Crematorium cremation and burial fees