Funeral Types
David Davies & Sons has been serving the local community since 1840 and over the years we have learnt that every funeral is different. As an independently run funeral directors, our structure and nature allows us to offer flexibility & creativity in funeral arrangements and provide you with the very best caring & personal service at your time of need.
David Davies & Sons offer a wide range of options to suit your needs and can take all faiths and cultures into consideration. As well as traditional religious burials and cremations, we also offer a non-religious or alternative funerals.
Please click on the headings to the right to find out more.
Burial or Cremation
David Davies & Sons’ experienced and empathetic staff can help you make the decision between burial or cremation.
It may be that your loved one expressed their wishes before their death. However, there will likely be questions you need to ask about the different options for burial or cremation, and in the case of cremation whether the ashes will be interred, or scattered, or whether you have thought of any other plans.
We are here to support you at every stage of the process.
We can organise a burial at a cemetery, graveyard or burial ground of your choice, and we can support you in making that choice. Where the purchase of a grave is allowed, we can do this on your behalf.
If you choose cremation, we will liaise with the crematorium on your behalf and make sure that all the details are dealt with exactly as you wish.
Contact us to find out how we can support you in carrying out your loved one’s and your families wishes.
Religious or Non-Religious Ceremonies
A religious service is conducted by an ordained minister or member of the clergy from a specific faith or religion. We arrange funerals for all Christian denominations, and we can also organise funerals for all religions, faiths and beliefs.
You may choose to have a civil celebrant for a non-religious ceremony. We can help you to choose a celebrant. You can find out more about independent celebrants here https://independentcelebrants.com/find-a-celebrant/
For a humanist ceremony we can help arrange an officiant from the humanist society to conduct the service. You can find out more about Humanists here https://humanists.uk
Contact us to talk about whether a religious or non-religious services is relevant for your loved one’s beliefs, or to discuss options for religious ceremonies for all faiths.
Service at the Church or Chapel
The coffin is taken to the Church or Chapel and may be taken in to the church by the Funeral Directors or you may choose family members and friends as ‘bearers’ to accompany the coffin in to the church, usually on a wheeled trolley, or carried in more traditional services.
The Church or Chapel will be chosen depending on the deceased person’s religious beliefs. A religious service is conducted by an ordained Minister or clergy from a specific faith or religion.
The service is usually held at a church or chapel attended by the deceased, or near to where the deceased lived, and the service may be followed by a further ceremony at the cemetery or burial ground.
A religious service will include prayers, a sermon, readings, hymns and sometimes music or poems. We can help you to choose hymns, songs and poems for the service, or your loved one may have expressed their wishes for their funeral. Additionally, a friend or family member may be asked to deliver a eulogy as a tribute to the deceased.
When the cremation service has finished, the coffin will be taken to the burial ground, cemetery or the crematorium.
The family leaves first, and guests are shown the way out by the funeral director and give their condolences to the family.
Family and guests may then go on to the churchyard, cemetery, burial ground, or the crematorium for the next part of the ceremony or burial.
A ‘wake’ or a gathering where guests are served food and drinks and where they can talk and share their memories of the deceased is optional.
Contact us to discuss how we can help you with the arrangements for a Church or Chapel service for your loved one.
Service at the Crematorium
If you choose cremation, the funeral service itself may take place at the crematorium, using their chapel, or you may prefer the service to take place in a church or other venue of your choice, prior to the cremation.
At a cremation, the coffin is taken to the crematorium and placed on a raised platform. Cremation services are often held to a tight time schedule, so guests need to arrive on time as it is likely that a number of cremations will be taking place on the same day.
The service can be led by a Minister, Celebrant or may be a Humanist service.
A cremation service usually lasts around half an hour, although families can book longer if they want. An order of service will usually be given to the guests, which details the sequence of events and details and words for any prayers, readings, or songs. We can help you to choose hymns, songs and poems for the service, or your loved one may have expressed their wishes for their funeral.
When the cremation service has finished, the coffin will be hidden by a curtain or pass through a doorway to be cremated.
The family leaves first, and guests are shown the way out by the funeral director. Guests then get the option to see the donated flowers and give their condolences to the family.
A ‘wake’ or a gathering where guests are served food and drinks and where they can talk and share their memories of the deceased is optional.
The ashes will be interred, scattered, or other wishes carried out at a later date. We can help you with all of the arrangements post-cremation.
Contact us to fund out more about cremation options and which Crematoria we work with.
Memorial Service
A memorial service can be held in addition to, or sometimes instead of, a funeral service. A memorial service can take place on a memorable or relevant date, such as your loved one’s birthday or the anniversary of their death, or at any other time following their funeral.
Families may choose to use these occasions to celebrate their loved one’s life and the service or contribution that they brought to others and to organisations that they belonged to, not focusing on their death. You may also hear a memorial service referred to as a ‘celebration of life’ for these reasons.
Contact us to talk about how we can support you in organising a Memorial Service for your loved one.
Woodland Burials
Woodland burial, also known as green burial or natural burial, is an eco-friendly funeral option that is growing in popularity, creating less environmental impact and allowing the remains to naturally become part of the environment. For burial, a biodegradable coffin or casket is used, usually made out of recycled materials, cardboard, wicker or willow. Alternatively, ashes can be interred or scattered at the Woodland burial site.
If you are considering a woodland burial, we are pleased to work alongside, and to recommend, Fenns Meadow Green Burial Ground https://www.shropshiregreenburials.co.uk/ – a small, family run business based in the North Shropshire Countryside, just outside Whitchurch. Fenns Meadow Green Burial Ground offers Burial Plots, Interment of Ashes within their meadow, or the Scattering of Ashes within one of their young woodlands. There are peaceful and relaxing areas including a ‘Pond of Reflection and a ‘Remembrance Tree’ in the grounds.
Please ask us for more details about woodland burials.
Green Funerals and Burial Grounds
Green burials, also known as natural burials, are eco-friendly burials which have as little impact on the environment as possible, allowing the remains to naturally become part of the environment. For burial, a biodegradable coffin or casket is used, usually made out of recycled materials, cardboard, wicker or willow. Alternatively, ashes can be interred or scattered at the green burial site.
If you are considering a green funeral or a green burial ground, we are pleased to work alongside, and to recommend, Fenns Meadow Green Burial Ground https://www.shropshiregreenburials.co.uk/ – a small, family run business based in the North Shropshire Countryside, just outside Whitchurch. Fenns Meadow Green Burial Ground offers Burial Plots, Interment of Ashes within their meadow, or the Scattering of Ashes within one of their young woodlands. There are peaceful and relaxing areas including a ‘Pond of Reflection and a ‘Remembrance Tree’ in the grounds.
Please ask us for more details about woodland burials.
