Welcome to Guildford Bereavement Services Website, which has been set up to provide you with useful information and advice about the service and facilities which we are proud to offer.

Guildford Crematorium, Bereavement Services, New Pond Road, Godalming, Surrey. GU7 3DB.

Bereavement Services Manager: Keith Hendry

Telephone: 01483-444711 Fax: 01483-532637

E-mail: [email protected]

Below are brief details of the Crematorium and Cemetery, use the page links listed on the right for more information.

Guildford Crematorium

Opened to the public in January 1967 the Crematorium is owned and operated by Guildford Borough Council. Situated on the B3000  between Guildford and Godalming town centres, 2 miles south of Guildford on the southern boundary of the Borough. The Crematorium serves primarily the Boroughs of Guildford and Waverley.

The Crematorium lies in a rural setting of 26 acres of which 11 acres have been sent aside as a Garden of Remembrance, where memorial trees, roses and shrubs have been planted in memory of those departed.

Cremated remains are either interred in the Garden of Remembrance, Vaults or scattered in the Glades.

Spring and Summer plantings are carried out annually to provide colour. The formal rose beds and other garden memorials are maintained to a high standard.

The planting of floral tributes in the gardens is not permitted. Cut flowers may be placed/ left in the flower room, which is situated, adjacent to the Remembrance Room.

Floral tributes left at the crematorium after the cremation service may, if you wish, be given to local hospitals, churches or nursing homes, the funeral director will carry out your wishes.

Floral tributes left on display will be removed on a regular basis.

The Chapel 

Mourners arrive under a covered way leading to the entrance hall; those attending may use a comfortably furnished waiting room. The chapel seating 100, was designed primarily for worship. An organ and organist are available to play any requested music and hymns, or alternatively a CD player is available to play any personal music. The Funeral director will arrange these, provided adequate notice is given. Curtains screen the catafalque at the point of committal; alternatively they may remain open throughout the service and close after all mourners have vacated the chapel.

Crematorium Service Chapel

Memorials

Roses, trees and shrubs are provided in the Crematorium gardens for adoption for periods of five years. Wall plaques are situated in the cloister and wall tablets are situated next to the Remembrance Room. Vase block tablets and memorial vaults are also available as a personal memorial.

All memorials are leased for a dedication period of 5 to 50 years and can be renewed for a further period on payment of the appropriate fee. There is no limit to the number of renewals. This ensures that the memorial can remain for as long as you wish.

Chapel Entrance

Guildford Cemeteries

Situated at Stoke New and Old Cemeteries, Stoughton Road, Guildford and The Mount Cemetery, The Mount, Guildford. Both cemeteries are owned and managed by Guildford Borough Council.

There are no office facilities situated at either cemetery, although maintenance staff have access to burial records or will telephone the Bereavement Services General Office for further details.

Stoke Cemetery is situated to the West of Guildford and opened in 1883. All new graves are situated in this cemetery, separate areas are available for Church of England, Roman Catholic, Non-Conformist, Jewish, children and babies. A service chapel is available for all denominations. A Garden of Remembrance is available where cremated remains may be interred, the plots are 3’ x 2’ or 7cm x 5cm and accommodate up to 4 caskets of cremated remains.

Mount Cemetery is situated to the south of Guildford on a hill overlooking the town centre. The cemetery is now full and is no longer able to accept further requests for burials unless the grave has been reserved or there is an existing family grave.

In the lower section of the cemetery Lewis Carroll is interred near to the chapel. Lewis Carroll lived in Castle Hill, Guildford and is famous for Alice In Wonderland. Another notable resident is Edward Carpenter, writer.

Cremated remains may be interred in an existing grave in either cemetery or interred in the Garden of Remembrance at Stoke New Cemetery.

The Council carries out general maintenance of the cemeteries, although relatives are encouraged to maintain their own graves in accordance with any particular rules.

The Council does not undertake specific maintenance of grave spaces.

Memorials

All memorials must be approved by the Council and erected in accordance with the cemeteries code of conduct and the Health and Safety Regulations. The Council does not undertake any form of memorial work.

A list of Memorial Masons is available on request from the Bereavement Services office.

Stoke New Cemetery – Lawn Section.