Nowadays, the idea of cremation is something we take very much for granted here in the UK. However, it’s not always been the case. Travel back in time less than 150 years and there were almost no cremations taking place.
Today, cremation is one of the most popular choices in the UK when it comes to making the difficult decision about what to do with a family member’s or your own remains. It might surprise you to learn that the history of cremation is long and chequered, before it became so widely accepted.
When did cremations start in the UK?
Cremation is just one of several types of funeral services and has been practised in various forms for thousands of years. The first recorded cremation actually took place more than 20,000 years ago. Progressive civilisations such as the Ancient Greeks practised it, however, it didn’t start to gain popularity in the UK until the late Victorian era.
A doctor by the name of Sir Henry Thompson was an advocate for cremation. He was fully behind the idea of cremation as he felt it was a ‘necessary sanitary precaution against the propagation of disease’ in a society that was increasingly urban and congested. To further the cause he founded the Cremation Society in 1874.
Five years later, the Society purchased land in Woking, Surrey, where they built the nation’s first crematorium in 1879.
However, it wasn’t until 1885 that the first official cremation in the UK took place at Woking, for Jeanette Pickersgill, a well-known literary and scientific figure. By the end of that same year, two more cremations had taken place, both of which were overseen by the Cremation Society of Great Britain.
Sir Henry was himself cremated in 1904 and during his lifetime, he supervised the opening of several more crematoria and witnessed a significant increase in the number of cremations.
Interestingly, for many years there was no legislation about cremation as a means of disposal of human remains. This had led to the prosecution of a physician named William Price, in 1882 who was put on trial after cremating his dead son as it was believed by some to be an illegal act. He successfully argued that there was no legislation that specifically outlawed it and this outcome paved the way for the Cremation Act 1902. When William died, he was cremated in a ceremony watched by 20,000 onlookers.
While there may have been opposition to the practice of cremation, it is now much more popular than burial which only accounts for 25% of all funerals.
Religion and cremation
When it comes to deciding whether it will be burial or cremation for a person’s final disposition, religious beliefs can be a determining factor. There are many religions and associated beliefs and death rituals, some of which include cremation as the preferred method, while other religions forbid it.
Christianity
Traditionally, Christianity wasn’t a supporter of cremation, holding that the resurrection of the faithful at the Second Coming required a body to be intact. However, more recently, it has become more acceptable, and a matter of an individual’s choice - cremation has never been a forbidden practice and the Bible doesn’t specifically prohibit it, however, laying the ashes to rest in consecrated ground is required by some denominations.
Catholicism
The Catholic church opposed cremation throughout much of its history. It took a strong stance against the practice and would excommunicate anyone who participated in or authorised the cremation of a member of the faith.
In 1963, the prohibition on cremation was lifted by the church and it’s now acceptable for a person of the Catholic faith to be cremated. That being said, burial or entombment is still preferred.
Judaism
Traditional Jewish law strictly forbids cremation. Burial is a requirement because the Jewish belief is that a body and soul are reunited after death. The body is considered sacred and must be buried in the earth within 24 hours of death.
Islam
Under Islamic law, cremation is prohibited because it is considered a violation of the dignity of the human body. Funeral rites for followers of Islam are prescribed by divine law. The dead must be buried as quickly as possible, preferably within a day of death.
Buddhism
Buddhism considers cremation to be an acceptable practice and not in conflict with the tenets of the religion.
If a body is to be cremated, Buddhist monks or the family perform the last rites on the day of cremation.
Hinduism
Hinduism mandates cremation, called Antim Sanskar, or last rite, for the disposition of a believer’s earthly remains.
When a body is cremated, Hindus believe it is presented as an offering to Agni, the Hindu god of fire. It is accompanied by a prayer to purify the deceased and lead them to a better life. Cremating the body also allows the mind and vital energies to detach themselves from the physical body and pass on, rather than lingering around loved ones who are still alive.
The growing popularity of cremation
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the popularity of funerals grew very quickly. By the 1980s, more than 65% of all funerals were cremations. By the time the millennium came around, there were 242 crematorium venues across the UK and more than 430,000 cremations carried out.
Figures released in the Sunlife Cost of Dying Report 2024 show that in 2023, 27% of funerals were burials, 53% were cremations, and 20% were direct cremations.
Direct cremations, in particular, have seen a marked increase in popularity, particularly during the 2021 COVID-19 restrictions. Celebrities are also opting for direct cremation. One that made the news was David Bowie’s cremation.
How a cremation is conducted
The cremation process is still a mystery for many people, which can lead to unfounded worries and the creation of unhelpful myths. Understanding how the process works can clear away your doubts.
A cremation service is usually planned along the following lines:
- The funeral provider takes the deceased in a coffin to the crematorium where a funeral service may be held
- The coffin is taken into the crematorium and received by the staff
- At the appropriate time, the coffin is taken into the crematory area until the cremation itself begins.
The cremation process itself involves placing the deceased, enclosed in the coffin, into an extremely hot cremation chamber until there are just bone fragments left. This typically takes around 90 minutes.
The bone fragments are carefully removed form the cremation chamber and cooled, after which any metals such as artificial joints, are separated from them. The sifted remains are ground into ashes using a special machine, then placed into a container ready for return to the family.
Environmental impact
An increasing number of people are thinking about the impact of what happens to their earthly remains. We’re all more aware of the importance of reducing waste, car and air travel, but what about the ‘green’ impact of cremation?
A traditional funeral has a massive impact on the environment. Some examples include:
- Chemical embalming fluid
- Fuel used in limousines and private cars that bring mourners to the funeral
- Solvents and adhesives that are used in MDF coffins
- Leakproof linings and plastic coffin handles
- Vast quantities of paper that are used in administration
- Materials used in the coffins
- Granite used in the headstones
- Disturbance of the earth (digging a grave releases sequestered carbon into the atmosphere)
Cremation services aren't 100% zero impact, but then no end of life service is. While there is still limited data about the CO2 and other emissions associated with burial, traditional cremation or direct cremation, people are surprised to learn that direct cremation has a lower carbon footprint than other funeral types. This is due to less travel by mourners, the lack of thirsty ceremonial vehicles, lower consumption of gas for the cremation itself (in an efficient facility) and digital documentation.
However, the environmental impact of the final part of a cremation funeral is becoming more of a concern.
Ashes or cremated remains are very alkaline which makes them harmful to plants and animals. Fragile ecosystems could be ruined by careless scattering of toxic human remains and so scattering should be done with respect for the site and with the landowners’ permission.
The rise of direct cremation funerals
A direct cremation carried out by an efficient and popular provider will release 40% less CO2 than the cremation element alone for a more traditional funeral.
However, this is not the main reason for the increase in direct cremations.
COVID-19 restrictions played a huge part in pushing up the number of direct cremations in 2020/2021 but the number of direct cremations has been steadily rising. Increased public awareness of the no-frills approach is one reason, but there are a few more.
Affordability
Direct cremation offers families a dignified option at a much lower cost than other types of funerals. Our direct cremations cost just £1,295 compared to the average basic funeral cost of £4,141.
Simplicity
Direct cremation is much easier and less stressful to take care of the physical remains of someone who has died, which then leaves more time for the family to consider how best to say farewell.
Efficiency
Arranging all the details of a funeral in the immediate aftermath of loss can feel overwhelming. Direct cremation can be arranged simply and quickly, with the provider taking care of all the practical elements of the cremation. This leaves more time to spend with grieving friends and family and planning a fitting celebration of life event.
A direct cremation also avoids the fuss and stress that can be involved in arranging and attending a traditional funeral service. Loved ones are free to plan a memorial service to honour their loved ones at a later date if they wish.
You can arrange for a direct cremation with Pure Cremation, without any fuss or bother, at a time and place that suits you.