Direct Cremation

What is a direct cremation?

If you want to have a simple funeral for your loved one, without all the trappings normally associated with funerals,  a 'Direct Cremation' is our simplest and most affordable option. A direct cremation is a cremation without a ceremony or funeral service. You can visit to pay your last respects, if you feel you want to, before your loved one is taken to the crematorium of our choosing. The ashes will be returned to you afterwards, for you to keep or scatter as you wish.​

What if I want to have a funeral ceremony as well?

If you would like to have a ceremony before or after a direct cremation, there are many choices available. A direct cremation can take place after a religious service, a ceremony at a village hall, town hall, sports club or even your own home. We also have a dedicated chapel in Newton Abbot that you can use. We can recommend religious ministers and non-religious celebrants to guide and help you.

Simplicity Funeral

A direct cremation, with the use of our our Hall, and a choice of a minister or celebrant.

Our hall at Newton Abbot seats up to 60 people and is available for a service of celebration. The hall can be set up how you wish, to have a service exactly as you require. Our sound system can be used to play as many pieces of music as you like. 

As this is our own venue, there is no time constraint on your use. We also have the facilities to provide teas and coffees, or we can arrange a caterer to come  in to serve light refreshments. You are, of course, more than welcome to do this yourselves.

The Simplicity Funeral is based on a service at our hall, followed by a direct cremation at Charlton Park. However, if you wish to attend the cremation service, we'd be more than happy to organise this for you. This will have a bearing on the overall cost of the funeral.

Non-Traditional Cremation

If you would prefer to hold a funeral in an alternative place, rather than a more formal setting of a church or crematorium, the team at Christophers' Family Funerals can arrange gatherings on farmlands, at country hotels, in village halls, at your own home if you wish. A ceremony can take place before a cremation, or after as a memorial service.

It is important to us to give you the choices to create the funeral that you wish to hold.  You can choose to be as involved in the service as you would like.  You can decide on words and music, decorate the coffin, have personal coffin bearers; it is completely up to you.

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The non-traditional cremation is based on an unattended cremation, but as with the Simplicity funeral, an attended service can be arranged.

Full-Service Cremation

A full service at the crematorium means that you only have one venue to organise. A service at a crematorium can be religious, non-religious or something in-between, according to your's and your loved one's beliefs. The service can be public or private, involving just your family members

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Although you can have an organist to play, our local crematoriums offer a free music service through Wesley Media. They have thousands of hymns and other tracks to choose from, which are played over the Crematorium's sound system. For a a fee, you can also have visual tributes, a web cast or recording of the service.

Religious Service followed by Cremation

If you and your loved one have strong religious beliefs, it is likely that you would want a service in a church or other place of worship before a cremation takes place. 

We can help you through liaising with ministers and organists. Most houses of worship will allow secular music to be played, particularly at the beginning and end of the service. Our music system can be used to play whatever you request. The cremation can take place directly after the service, or if you prefer, if can be organised for later on in the day, allowing you time to join your friends for refreshments first.

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As an alternative, a memorial service could take place after the cremation instead, allowing for a more relaxed ceremony.

Traditional Burial

A traditional burial takes place in a churchyard or cemetery, usually following on from a service in a place of worship. 

Most of our local, rural churches have space in their churchyards for burials to take place. Burials can be single, double or triple-depth allowing family members to be interred together. If your loved one has requested to be buried and they have no religious beliefs, or the place of worship they have attended doesn't have a burial site, a local cemetery or crematorium grounds can be used.

Teignbridge has cemeteries in Newton Abbot, Kingsteignton, Teignnmouth and Dawlish.

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If there is a memorial to be removed for the interment takes place, we will arrange for this to be done, with your permission. If it is a new grave, and you would like a headstone, we can help and advise you. Please see the section below on memorials for a more information.

Green or Woodland Burial

A natural, informal alternative

A ‘green’ burial is a more organic and natural alternative to a traditional graveyard or crematorium.  It can provide a more relaxed environment that is not governed by formalities and time constraints. You can have a religious ceremony, a secular ceremony, or no ceremony at all.

In South Devon we are fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful and peaceful landscapes, which provide us with many burial sites. Green and woodland burials sites stipulate that eco-friendly, fully biodegradable, plastic-free coffins such as willow, bamboo, cotton or wool are used reducing the impact to the landscape as much as possible.

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Our local green and woodland burial sites:

The Sharpham Trust 

With stunning views over the River Dart and across the South Hams, offering burials and interment of ashes.

Bidwell Wood Burial Site

An established woodland, with a mix of wildflowers and shrubs. Wild plants, insects, birds and other animals have all made this woodland their home.

Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust

The site is part of Conqueror Wood with panoramic views over the whole of Torbay, with open glades and paths with views of the sea. 

Crossways

Tucked away down a quiet lane, but perched on the brow of a hill with views across Dartmoor, the burial site is tranquil and undisturbed. The site is a haven for wildlife and is kept in a way that encourages nature to flourish.