Introduction
Arranging a funeral can be daunting as there is a lot to think about. At Taunton Crematorium, every service is unique and we will work with you to personalise your service. This makes sure we capture the personality of your loved one and remember them the way they wanted.
We suggest some topics to think about before speaking to a funeral director. If you wish to visit the Chapel beforehand, please contact a member of the Bereavement Services Team and we can arrange an appointment. Our Chapel technician will take you through your options and let you know what to expect on the day of the funeral.
Address: Wellington New Road, Taunton TA1 5NE
Email: crematorium@somerset.gov.uk
Phone: 01823 356381
Timing
Think about what time of day the service should be. If people are travelling from far away it may be more practical to hold the service nearer the weekend or in the afternoon. Think about close family and friends’ working hours and what time would be easier for most to attend. We also offer weekend services, but please check in advance that a member of the team is available.
You will also need to think about the length of the service. Services are generally booked every 30 minutes from 9am through to as late as 5pm, but time slots can be extended if requested.
Music, tributes and webcasting
Take time to decide on the music you would like for the funeral as this is incredibly personal. It could be your loved one’s favourite song, or one that always makes you think of them. You will need to think about the music you would like for entry into the chapel, perhaps a reflection piece along with any hymns, and music for exit from the chapel as everyone is leaving. The music will also set the tone of the service.
You may see this as a time for quiet reflection, or as a time for celebrating the life of your loved one. Remember that the music played will always make you think of them, long after the funeral has taken place. This may help you make your decision. If you would like hymns, the Crematorium Chapel has a pipe organ if you wish to invite an organist. Hymns can be played with an accompanying choir, which encourages attendees to sing, through our music system, Obitus.
All music is ordered online through your funeral director. If you decide not to use a funeral director, please contact the crematorium office with any requests for your service and we will arrange this for you. The chapel is also equipped to play music from a CD or USB if you would like specific tracks not available through us.
Photo tributes
You can choose to display the life of a loved one through pictures on our chapel screens. You can choose:
- a single photo shown throughout the service
- a simple slideshow played throughout the service on a loop or once at a time you choose
- a professional photo tribute set to music played once when you choose, created by professional video editors
- a family-supplied video played once when you choose a time
DVDs and USB copies of the tribute can also be supplied upon request.
Please talk to your funeral director to arrange this. You will need to provide photos at least 48 hours before the service.
Webcasting
You can watch high-quality live coverage of the service if the family chooses. We can provide a webcast of a funeral service if the family asks. It can be viewed as the service is taking place and available to see for five days.
Your funeral director will be able to arrange this for you and can provide you with a username and password to pass onto friends and relatives. Anyone with a modern computer, tablet or smartphone with a good internet connection will be able to watch.
You can ask for the service to stay available for people to watch for another 28 days.
Recordings
You can ask for a high-quality recording of the service produced by professional editors, available on DVD, Blu-ray or USB. Please talk to your funeral director if you wish to receive this.
All options listed here are provided to our Crematorium from Obitus.
Conducting the service
Finding the right person to conduct the service can be a difficult choice if you do not already have someone in mind. Most funeral directors can make suggestions depending on religion and cultural beliefs. These will be trusted officiants who have worked with both us and the funeral directors before. Some funeral directors also offer this service themselves. A family member or friend is most welcome to officiate the service. You don’t need any training or qualification to do this.
At the end of the service
The Chapel has a voile curtain that can be closed at committal. A set of deep purple curtains can be closed following the final piece of music at the end of the service that will conceal your view of the coffin. It is entirely up to you if you wish to have either of these or at what time. It may be that the curtains are too final and you may not wish to have these, or this may make it easier for you to be able to leave the chapel. Bear in mind your feelings towards both of these options, but you can always change your mind on the day of the service if you wish.
Personalising the service
Only you will know what can be done to truly personalise a service for your loved one. Please speak to your funeral director or the Bereavement Services Team at Taunton Crematorium if you have any special requests.
Some additional things to think about:
- the colour of the lights around the catafalque – the platform where the coffin is held in the Chapel – can be changed to their favourite colour
- the Chapel screens can display different pictures such as woodlands, candles, and football team emblems
- personalised items can be laid out on the altar. We also have easels if you have any framed items to display
- live music, bagpipers, family members or friends who would like to sing or perform
Whatever you decide to do, your funeral director and the team at Taunton Crematorium are here to help you. We welcome any ideas you may have to remember your loved one and make the day memorable.
Cremation arrangements
The necessary information is usually provided to us via a funeral director. If you decide not to use a funeral director, please get in touch with us at the crematorium and we will be able to help you. We will need some information from you, including:
- the name of the deceased person
- the date and time you would like the funeral to take place
- your name and phone number
Once we have this information we will make a provisional booking. You can find out more from our arranging a funeral page.
Services in the crematorium chapel are available every half hour between 9am and 5pm. We would ask for the chapel to be cleared in 25 minutes, so that it is ready for the next service.
The crematorium office is open between 9am and 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4.30pm on Friday. The chapel can also open on Saturday and Sunday by special request. There is an extra charge for weekend services.
Our Directions for Cremation form has been designed to enable us to have a full understanding of the service requirements. It includes the Directions. This form will need to be downloaded, printed and completed, then uploaded and emailed to crematorium@somerset.gov.uk Alternatively, it can be posted to:
The Bereavement Services Team,
Taunton Crematorium,
Wellington New Road,
Taunton,
TA1 5NE
Independent funerals – transport
As long as you can transport the deceased, it does not matter how they arrive. However, we need either a nameplate, or at the very least, the name of the deceased written on the coffin for our Chapel technician to check when you arrive at the Crematorium.
Collection of Cremated Remains
The physical cremation will take about one and a half hours. It depends on how many cremations have taken place already as to when the cremated remains can be collected. We ask that you allow us 4 hours after the service before you collect. This would mean that your loved one would need to take priority so we would need to know in advance if for some reason you need to collect the remains quickly.
Otherwise, cremated remains can be collected from the crematorium office from 9am onwards the next working day. You will need to bring some form of identification with you such as passport, driving licence or utility bills so that we can release them to you. The name of the person collecting will also need to match the name provided to us on the Directions for Cremation Form and the Cremation Form 1 (Application for Cremation).
Payment
We can take card payments either in the office or over the phone on 01823 356 381. Alternatively, we will issue you with an invoice at the beginning of the following month if you would prefer to pay online. Please see our fees and charges for more information.
