Home Births, deaths and marriages Cemeteries and crematorium Teesside Crematorium Funeral directors
The minimum notice required for cremations is 72 hours (working hours - excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and Bank Holidays).
You can make initial arrangements over the phone. We must receive written confirmation, via the notice of cremation form (DOC) and application for cremation form (PDF), by 11am, 72 working hours before the cremation.
All statutory forms and certificates must be submitted with the notice of cremation form.
Cremation services are currently arranged at 30 minute intervals between the following times:
St Bede's Chapel
9am to 11:30am and 1pm to 3:30pm
St Hilda's Chapel
9:15am to 11:45am and 1:15pm to 3:45pm
There are reduced charges for the 9am and 9:15am services.
The service must not exceed the given time of 30 minutes (which includes time to enter and leave the chapel), as this may delay the following services and cause distress to other families.
Service times may be extended from 30 minutes to 1 hour for a very small additional charge. This must be agreed in advance and is subject to availability.
Funeral attendees arriving early or late may be required to wait.
The chapels are not consecrated and so are suitable for all religious and non-religious services. All religious symbols are removable. Families can choose which chapel they want to use. Find out more about our chapels.
The service book in use is the 'Funeral Services of the Christian Churches' 1994 edition, for Church of England, Roman Catholic, and Free Church services. Other service books and hymn sheets may be provided by the funeral director.
To reduce the chance of delays, collections and the signing of books of condolence are not allowed inside or immediately outside the chapels.
A webcasting service is available for those who are not able to attend the service.
We now offer direct cremations.
A direct cremation is a cremation without a funeral service, so family and friends do not attend, and there is no minister or flowers, etc. It's a simpler and less costly alternative to a full funeral service. Our experienced and compassionate staff will still treat the cremation with respect and dignity, and support families.
Costs are available on the cremation charges page. These charges do not include any additional funeral director fees.
For more information please call us on 01642 817725.
Organs are available in both chapels. The organs are free to use, however we do not provide an organist. You'll need to hire an organist (fees will apply).
Music during the service is restricted to 3 items. We use the Obitus media system, which can be used to choose music for the service, and there are TV screens to display tributes.
We have an extensive library of music, and we can obtain most commercially-available music if we're given at least 72 hours' notice.
For more information, please contact Obitus.
The maximum size of coffin that can safely be cremated is as follows:
St Bede’s
St Hilda’s
For coffins which exceed the maximum dimensions listed, we must be notified in advance of the size and shape of the coffin. The sizes must take into account any handles or other fittings which project from the sides or ends of the coffin.
All coffins must have a nameplate and will not be accepted if they leak. Coffins which are not a traditional design may not be permitted. For example, any coffin originating from outside the UK, or any other special or unusual designs. We must approve the use of these coffins in advance.
Pacemakers, cochlear implants, radioactive implants, false limbs, plaster casts, or any other item or implant which might be a safety risk, must be removed before the cremation takes place. We must be given written confirmation that this has happened.
The funeral director or the person responsible for the funeral arrangements must provide enough people to carry the coffin from the hearse to the catafalque. A wheeled bier is available to move the coffin to the catafalque.
The choices for the disposal of cremated remains are:
For cremated remains which are to be scattered in the Garden of Remembrance, if family or witnesses do not want to be present, the remains will be scattered in the garden one week after the cremation.
Appointments can be made 48 hours in advance for families to be present when the remains are scattered. There's a charge for scattering if the cremation did not take place at Teesside Crematorium.
The Garden of Remembrance is divided into 12 monthly plots, and cremated remains are scattered on the appropriate plot according to the month of cremation. If any cremated remains are to be scattered with those of a previous cremation which was before 1983, we need to be told in advance so they are scattered on the correct plot.
Cremated remains can be stored at the crematorium for up to one month, after which a charge will be made.
All cremations are carried out individually but exceptions can be made in the following circumstances:
It's important to know that when cremating an infant, there are occasions when no remains are left after the process has been completed. Parents should be made aware of this when choosing cremation, and if they're not comfortable with this, they should choose the option of burial instead.