Funeral options

Bolt1234

I am asking for a friend and said I would try and find out.
Her husband is in poor health and they are not religious. He wants to be buried in a churchyard 250 miles from home. Could they have a humanist ceremony at a woodland burial site say near where they live and then the body moved to the final resting place?  They would use a funeral director and money isn’t an issue.  Could anyone help guide us please as to what the options are.

elsien

I guess it would predominantly depend on the woodland site and whether they would permit a service for someone who is not being buried there. She would need to check that with wherever she had in mind. A funeral can be held anywhere if the place agrees - you can have it in your own garden if you want to, there’s no licence or anything needed. Just the owner’s permission. 
Otherwise I can’t see a particular issue with a funeral director transporting the coffin elsewhere for the burial  - again, she’d need to talk to the funeral director.
I’m slightly confused about what options or difficulties you’re thinking about? 

Bolt1234

Both of us have just been to a normal funerals where there is a church service and then the body is moved to the graveside or crematorium which has always been local.  This scenario would be different and the ceremony would be 250 miles away from the final resting place.  Her husband is insistent that he be buried in this place. The ceremony would be near his home.  The final resting place would be attended by very close family only.

Keep_pedalling

Most churches will not take burials from people with people who are not local or non Christians, they simply do not have the room. I can understand the attraction of being buried in a beautiful churchyard but for someone who holds no religious belief a beautiful woodland burial site should be just as appealing. 

A humanist ceremony can take place anywhere but they would need to get the agreement of the land owner.

Savvy_Sue

I'd start by checking whether or not he'll be able to be buried in this particular churchyard, because that might be more of an issue than where any service is held. Does he already have a plot there?

Torry_Quine

If the cemetery is connected with a church then the church would be the ones to know the answer. 

elsien

You don’t need to use a funeral director at all (although for most people it removes some of the stress.) Technically you could hire a van and transport the coffin yourselves. 

It really is just about talking to places where she might want the funeral and burial then the logistics of moving between the sites.   

Talk to a couple of funeral directors and see what they are willing to offer/facilitate.

(I’m presuming he’s not wanting to be moved from England to Scotland?)

p00hsticks

The first thing to do would be to check that there is actually a plot available for him in the churchyard if he doesn't already have one. Space in churchyards is often limited and as he isn't local, unless he has strong family ties to the area and/or there is already a family grave to be reopened then burial there may not be permitted. You'd probably need to speak to the churchwarden of the church there, or a funeral director local to that area.

elsien

Would he consider cremation and having the ashes scattered at his preferred spot if burial there isn’t an option? 

Bolt1234

He has strong family ties to the graveyard and he was brought up as a child in the area hence the wish.

p00hsticks

Bolt1234 said:

He has strong family ties to the graveyard and he was brought up as a child in the area hence the wish.

So is there a plot there for him already ?