Guidance has now been received from the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) regarding the COVID restrictions at Funeral Services from 10th December 2021.
Institute of Cemetery & Crematorium ManagementChange of England Guidance
The guidance on face coverings in England is changing from 10th December specifying that masks are required in crematoria and burial chapels.
The chairs in the main crematorium and the pews in the cemetery chapels have now been reinstated to our full seated capacity. This will be 87 for the main chapel and 55 for the Cemetery. We will be unable to permit standing within the chapel.
Singing is now permitted, which we appreciate may be difficult wearing a face covering and hymn books will be available if required.
New guidance surrounding persons attending a service if they are required to self isolate or quarantine can be read below:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for funerals and commemorative events during the coronavirus pandemic – updated 23 November 2021
The Department of Health and Social Care, and the UK Health and Security Agency (formerly Public Health England) updated their guidance on funeral and commemorative events during the coronavirus pandemic on 23 November 2021. The revised guidance aligns with wider guidance that LFD tests are now taken before a high risk activity rather than twice weekly as before. Advice is given for those that are exempt from isolation to take an LFD test before attending a funeral, as if they are a contact or in quarantine this might change their decision about whether to attend the funeral or not. A copy of the revised guidance can be found on the Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for funerals and commemorative events during the coronavirus pandemic page, at Gov.uk .
If you have been overseas in the last 10 days, follow the guidance on international travel for testing requirements before attending a funeral.
A person that has tested positive for Covid 19 or is displaying symptoms, should not attend a funeral service unless they meet the exemption criteria in the guidance within the link above and follow the notification information. Even in this situation, where possible, the person should consider attending remotely. This exemption does not apply to attendance at commemorative events such as the scattering and burying of ashes.
We will of course still be providing hand sanitiser and the hand washing facilities will continue to be clearly signed.
Although the capacity within the chapels has increased, we appreciate that some families may still prefer to continue to socially distance and sit within their bubbles. To aid with this, an updated seating plan has been uploaded to our website to aid families in their planning.
As ever we are here to support you so please do not hesitate to ask if you have any queries and we will do our best to answer them.
We are adhering to all government guidance , however, we have not lost sight of the fact that you are visiting us at a particularly difficult time and will do our best to carryout personal requests if it is safe to do so.
We will amend this information as and when guidance is updated.
Thank you for your continued support.