"Victoria helped us see beyond the loss and to the brighter days ahead"
Guest at G's Funeral
February 2025
Where can you hold a funeral service?
You can hold a funeral service or memorial service literally anywhere with the landowner’s or property owner’s permission (and a good funeral director, if you’re using one) – this includes pubs, clubs, village halls, private gardens – though many choose to use a dedicated funeral venue, due to the practicality, extra facilities which can help enrich the service, the available capacity, or even the beautiful view!
Below are a few of the venues where I hold funeral services regularly in the Bishop’s Stortford, Dunmow, Saffron Walden, Harlow and Ware areas, though I do also travel further on request to places like City of London Crematorium, Kent and Sussex Crematorium, and Greenacres Chiltern Park, and have held memorials and services in alternative venues.
It is all possible, we just have to be a bit more creative at times!
(the information provided below is believed to be correct at the time of writing, and should always be confirmed when booking with the venue)
Local funeral venues
In Bishop's Stortford, Stansted, Saffron Walden, Dunmow, Harlow, and Ware
Bishop’s Stortford Cemetery and Chapel
A pretty little chapel which allows for smaller, more intimate services and gatherings to take place, which are sometimes followed by burial in the Bishop’s Stortford cemeteries. There are no media or microphone facilities, but the acoustics are good, and music can be played via a Bluetooth speaker. Would also make a beautiful space for a naming ceremony.
In-House Facilities
- Flexible seating for up to around 30
- Flexible service times and lengths (by prior arrangement)
- Weekend services available - yes, contact for current availability
- Webcast - no
- Music - no (I usually use a Bluetooth speaker and a Spotify playlist)
- TV/Visual Tribute - no
Cam Valley Crematorium
A bright and airy crematorium with a large chapel overlooking the beautiful Cam Valley, set just outside of Great Chesterford. The cost of the view is that even the gentlest breeze can feel a bit more bracing up there, so if the weather is looking inclement, please dress accordingly for standing out on the flower terrace afterwards! There is also a memorial garden for ashes interments.
In-House Facilities
- Seating for around 100, plus standing room and external speakers if needed
- 60 minute slots, allowing for a 40 minute service
- Weekend services available - yes, contact for current availability
- Webcast - yes (fees apply)
- Music - yes
- TV/Visual Tribute - yes (fees apply)
Dunmow Crematorium
A new family-run crematorium with a large chapel set on a farm surrounded by the Dunmow countryside, complete with resident peacocks! There is also a large barn next door which you can hire for wakes and gatherings afterwards, meaning less travelling for those attending. Longer time slots allow for you to take your time, without being aware of any following services (you don’t have to use the full 90 minutes if you don’t want to).
In-House Facilities
- Seating for around 177, plus standing room and external speakers if needed
- A 2 hour slot with up to 90 minutes service time
- Weekend and evening services available - yes, contact for current availability (at time of writing, no additional fees were applicable for weekend or evening services)
- Webcast - yes (fees apply)
- Music - yes
- TV/Visual Tribute - yes (fees apply)
- It is possible to hire the barn next door for wakes and gatherings, subject to availability
Greenacres Epping Forest
Services take place in the Woodland Hall, with its large skylight and glass back wall, which lets you look out into the forest, feeling as if the trees are wrapping themselves around you. Keep an eye on the bird feeders, which keep the local wildlife well fed (squirrels make a regular appearance throughout services!).
GreenAcres Epping Park is a living memorial park which is open every day of the year, and you are welcome to visit. Burials and ashes interments can take place in the grounds or, if a cremation is the preference, this can be organised by either GreenAcres or your chosen funeral director to take place at a separate venue after the service.
In-House Facilities
- Seating for around 100, plus standing room and external speakers if needed
- Services run every couple of hours, with 60 minutes service time in the hall, allowing for a breathing space between services
- Weekend and evening services available - yes, contact for current availability
- Webcast - yes (fees apply)
- Music - yes
- TV/Visual Tribute - yes (fees apply)
- It is possible to hire the Gathering Hall next door for wakes and gatherings, subject to availability
Harwood Park Crematorium
On the outskirts of Stevenage, Harwood Park Crematorium is surrounded by fields and landscaped memorial gardens, and the chapel has tall windows overlooking the surrounding countryside.
Despite being able to seat around 80 people with plenty of room for more to stand in the large foyer, the chapel has quite a cosy feel.
In-House Facilities
- Seating for around 80, plus standing room and if needed
- 45 minute slots, allowing for a 30 minute service
- Weekend and evening services available - yes, contact for current availability
- Webcast - yes (fees apply)
- Music - yes
- TV/Visual Tribute - yes (fees apply)
Old Park Meadow
Light, bright, and airy, services are held in The Lodge with walls of glass taking in the views of the surrounding rolling countryside.
Although you wouldn’t necessarily guess by looking at it, Old Park Meadow is a natural burial ground, and burials or ashes interments can take place immediately following a service, or, if the preference is for cremation, the coffin is taken to a local crematorium by your chosen funeral director after the service, just as if a cremation was happening following a church service (you may or may not wish to attend this part).
In-House Facilities
- Flexible seating for up to 100 (they will only put out as many chairs as needed), plus plenty of standing room and external speakers if needed
- Up to 90 minutes service time, with breathing space between services
- Weekend and evening services available - no
- Webcast - yes (fees apply)
- Music - yes
- TV/Visual Tribute - yes (fees apply)
- It is also possible to hire The Lodge for longer to hold your wake or gathering here following the service, too
Parndon Wood Crematorium
With a recently refurbished chapel in light and neutral tones, tall ceilings and a soothing water feature, Parndon Wood Crematorium is set alongside the Parndon Wood Nature Reserve, and incorporates a cemetery for both burials and ashes interments within their well-managed grounds.
Well-known and supported by the local community.
In-House Facilities
- Flexible seating for up to 100, plus standing room and external speakers if needed
- 60 minute slots, allowing for a 40 minute service
- Weekend services available - yes, contact for current availability
- Webcast - yes (fees apply)
- Music - yes
- TV/Visual Tribute - yes (fees apply)
Saffron Walden Cemetery and Chapel
A non-denominational Victorian chapel with lovely high vaulted ceiling and large windows, which has been refurbished to offer a tranquil setting for more intimate services and gatherings, sometimes followed by a burial within the grounds. There are no media or microphone facilities, but the acoustics are good, and music can be played via a Bluetooth speaker, or the in-house organ.
In-House Facilities
- Flexible seating for up to around 30, plus standing room at the back
- Flexible service times and lengths (by prior arrangement)
- Weekend services available - yes, contact for current availability
- Webcast - no
- Music - no (I usually use a Bluetooth speaker and a Spotify playlist). There is an organ available if required.
- TV/Visual Tribute - no
Woollensbrook Crematorium
On the outskirts of Hoddesdon, Woollensbrook Crematorium has a slightly more cosy feel than its Parndon Wood or Cam Valley cousins, even though the chapel will still easily seat nearly 100 people, and incorporates a cemetery for burials and ashes interments. There is a soothing water feature by the large window.
In-House Facilities
- Flexible seating for up to 100, plus standing room and external speakers if needed
- 60 minute slots, allowing for a 40 minute service
- Weekend services available - yes, contact for current availability
- Webcast - yes (fees apply)
- Music - yes
- TV/Visual Tribute - yes (fees apply)
