Cremations

Two pallbearers carrying a wooden coffin with a floral arrangement on top

Most popular funerals

Cremations are now the most popular form of funeral. Most people will want a ceremony at the crematorium – using their chapel – but you can also hold the service in a church or other venue of your choice prior to the cremation.

It is entirely up to you if you want the service to be religious or non-religious. A religious service will be conducted by an ordained minister or clergy from a specific faith or religion whereas a non-religious ceremony can have a civil celebrant or officiant from the humanist society.

Alfred Smith Funeral Directors can help make arrangements for whichever type of service you would like.

A funeral procession led by a black hearse

What happens at a cremation service?

Depending on your preference, mourners may assemble outside awaiting the arrival of the hearse, or may take a seat in the chapel before the coffin is brought in. Alternatively, the coffin can be taken to the venue prior to the mourners arriving.

Unless you have asked for extra time for your service, a cremation funeral service usually lasts between 35 to 45 minutes. The service can include a number of hymns or non-religious songs that personally meaningful, eulogies and readings. At the end of the service the coffin is usually obscured from view for mourners to pay their final respects before the cremation.

Most crematoriums are able to return a loved one’s ashes one working day after the cremation, and sometimes even the same day. At this stage you can think about what you would like to do with the ashes — some ideas you might like to consider are available here.

Alfred Smith Funeral Directors can assist you in every step of the funeral and cremation arrangements, so please don’t hesitate to ask us about any aspects or queries you may have.

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Ashes, Caskets, Urns and Keepsakes

We have a wide range of urns and caskets for this purpose in a variety of styles and materials such as wood, marble and stone.

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Our pricing

Funeral prices vary depending on the type of ceremony you would like for your loved one. There are many options to choose from to make it unique and special.

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Planning ahead?

It is now really easy to plan ahead, making a huge difference by easing the burden on your family when the time comes, so they can focus on the arrangements.

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Need advice?

Alfred Smith Funeral Directors can assist you in every step of the funeral so please don’t hesitate to ask us about any aspects or queries you may have.

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Latest Reviews

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Alfred Smith were excellent. I had most contact with Jackie and she was particularly helpful

Edward Jones

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Alfred Smith's are great and very helpful and very good and they help me very quickly and they was very friendly to me with the loss of my auntie emmie and I give them 10 out of 10 ++++…

mick bigley

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Was very impressed with the whole experience with Alfred Smith Funeral Directors.

Marieanne Wash

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My family the Warner/Emery have used A.Smiths for years, have given their services and would recommend them the local people.

Brian Emery

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Wonderful experience from start to finish. You feel as if you are talking to life long friends. Incredibly understanding and kind. Would recommend them to anyone needing their services. Jackie and Gill in southwark were both fantastic can’t fault either of these ladies. Thanking for…

Lisa Frampton

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Gill & Katie were stars, they were a great help from start to finish. I would happily recommend Alfred Smith to family & friends.

Beardy McMetalFace

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I and my partner recently arranged my mother's funeral with Alfred Smith Funeral Directors and really could not be more pleased and grateful for the service I received. Gill was so lovely and kind and explained everything clearly to us and didn't pressure us into…

Rebecca Finch

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All I can say is a Great Big thank you to Jackie Bobby and the team. Jackie was fantastic she did everything for me made it really easy as I had never done anything like this Before but she was really great, I would tell…

Danny Daniels

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I recently had a funeral with Smiths for my brother Ron and the service I received was fantastic. Jackie in particular I can't thank enough. She was extremely helpful, every question I asked she was able to answer. On the day of the funeral Bobby…

Danny Daniels

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Jackie, the lady we dealt with at the Great Suffolk Street branch explained everything to us at the start. She could answer all our questions and was so natural she made us feel very much at ease under the circumstances. On the day of the…

Daniel Hewetson

Thinking about a Funeral Plan?

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Choice Funeral plans enable you to arrange and pay for your Funeral Director Services in advance, which could provide peace of mind to you and your family.

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Funeral Notice, Donations and Tribute Service

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View funeral notices and tributes to your loved one and leave a donation in their memory

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