Cremations
Vinters Park Crematorium
The Vinters Park Crematorium opened in 1962 and is owned and
managed by Maidstone Borough Council. The Crematorium is located
adjacent to the M20 and is easily accessible. From Junction 7 of
the M20 follow directions towards Maidstone, the Crematorium is
signposted. For those wishing to find the crematorium
using Sat Nav, please use postcode ME14 5LG.
Opening times
Office
Monday to Thursday: 8:30am to 5pm
Friday: 8:30am to 4:30pm
Halls
Every day; including weekends and Bank Holidays; from 9:00am to
4:30pm
Vehicle entrance
Monday-Thursday: 8:30am to 5pm
Friday: 8:30am to 4:30pm
Weekends and Bank Holidays: 9am - 5pm
Pedestrian entrance
Open at all times
Request a plot marker
Garden of Remembrance
The Garden of Remembrance has developed over the years to
provide two distinct areas: the informally designed flower beds and
shrubbery areas containing roses, azaleas and specimen trees; and
the natural woodside area with its bark pathway which meanders
through the perimeter of the woodlands on the west side of the
grounds.
The ambience within the garden promotes an area for quiet
contemplation and tranquility where visitors can wander at ease and
rest on one of the many benches.
There are eight designated areas in the garden for strewing
remains and an area designated for the burial of remains along with
areas for memorials to be sited.
Facilities
Car parking is freely available in the two official car parks;
Chapel car park is for families attending cremation services and
the Main Entrance car park is provided for visitors to the Garden
of Remembrance. During fine weather, and on occasions when large
numbers of vehicles are present, then the grassed area leading from
the Main Entrance car park is used. There are two spaces available
for disabled visitors in each of the car parks.
A comfortable waiting room is provided for principal mourners
attending cremation services and for other visitors when no
services are in progress.
Provision for people with disabilities has been carefully
considered and all areas around the Chapel, Cloisters and courtyard
have ramped pathways and dropped kerbs are located around the site.
A deaf loop system operates in the Chapel and a disabled toilet
facility has been provided adjacent to the Chapel car park. Should
any visitor to the Crematorium require a wheelchair then this can
be obtained by asking any member of staff.
The Bereavement Services Office is fully
accessible to disabled visitors via the approach ramp and there are
disabled toilet facilities available in reception.
Memorials
We offer a number of memorials which can be
adopted to act as a lasting remembrance to your loved
ones.
- Leather Plaques - A modern form of memorial
that are covered in red or dark blue Levant Morocco leather, hand
tooled in gold leaf
- Cloister Wall Tablets - A more traditionally
styled memorial situated in an area of the Cloisters . They can be
single or double sized and made from a variety of materials
including: White Bianco Del Mar marble with incised painted
lettering, Green Slate with incised gilded lettering and Black
Slate with incised gilded lettering
- Memorial Flower Vases - Are available for
dedication within the Cloisters and the Flower Hall.
- Stone Effect Plaques - Are available around
the gardens.
Other information
An annual service of remembrance is held at 3pm on the second
sunday in June. Family groups and individual visitors are invited
to attend the 45 minute service.
When do funerals take place?
Funerals take place Monday to Friday starting
at 9.30am and running at 45 minute intervals until 3.30pm. Please
note the actual time allowed in the Chapel is 30 minutes.
Saturday funerals can be arranged at 9.30am or
10.15am but please note there are additional fees for these
services.
The Service
The Chapel
Crematorium chapel services are arranged at 45
minute intervals, allowing 30 minutes in the chapel. For large
funerals extra time can be reserved in advance at the time of
booking.
The crematorium chapel seats 83 people and
there is some additional standing space. If we can’t get everyone
into the chapel then speakers are available in the cloisters to
relay the service to a wider congregation. Again, if you would like
this, we need to know in advance. Please do feel free to book an
appointment to come and look round the chapel and the gardens
before the service.
You can choose any prayers, readings, poetry,
tributes and eulogy you wish in conjunction with the person who is
taking the service.
Our commitment is to continuously improve
standards, and we have recently provided new comfortable,
upholstered chairs in the chapel as well as a modern heating system
and new curtains.
Music
Music plays an important part in the service
and reflects the tastes, wishes or religious traditions of the
deceased – this can mean so much to the relatives and friends.
Our chapel has a state of the art system on
which almost any track whether popular, traditional or hymnal can
be played. Your requests should be discussed with your Funeral
Director when arranging the service. If you have a special piece of
music such as the deceased or a relative performing a favourite
track or reciting a poem etc, your Funeral Director can arrange for
your CD recording to be downloaded to our system to play during the
service.
There is also an organ in the chapel for the
playing of live music. You may wish to consider a live soloist or
other performer to be included and we are happy to accommodate this
provided sufficient time is booked to allow for it. Please refer to
your Funeral Director for further advice.
After the Cremation Service
Wreaths and flowers are placed in the
specially created display areas so that mourners can leave the
chapel, view the tributes and spend time in quiet reflection.
Floral tributes will remain on display for a total
of three days including the day of the service. Your funeral
director can advise on alternatives.
Following the service, the coffin is withdrawn
from the chapel into the committal room where it undergoes the
cremation process. We have upgraded our cremators to ensure
that they meet EEC guidelines on emissions. We strictly adhere to
the Code of Cremation Practice in the operation and administration
of the crematorium.
Cremated Remains
You can decide to scatter or inter cremated
remains in the crematorium gardens, or inter in a dedicated plot or
family grave at the cemetery or take them away to keep or dispose
of in line with the wishes of the deceased.
At Vinters Park Crematorium there are eight
designated areas for you to scatter the cremated remains. You can
also select a memorial to commemorate your loved one in the
gardens.
Funeral Directors
A funeral director can be chosen in a number of ways. He may be
known by you or recommended by friends, a family doctor or clergy.
Most funeral directors also advertise in the local press, church
magazines and the phone book.