Dedication service at Waseley Hills Crematorium
Funeral directors, celebrants, members of the clergy and senior representatives from many organisations within the bereavement sector came together for a Service of Dedication at Waseley Hills Crematorium.
The crematorium, one of the most environmentally-friendly facilities of its kind in the UK, opened in March 2022 to serve the communities of South Birmingham, Bromsgrove and North Worcestershire.
It is part of Westerleigh Group, one of the UK’s largest independent owners and operators of crematoria and cemeteries, with 36 other sites across England, Scotland and Wales, all set within beautifully-landscaped gardens of remembrance which provide pleasant, peaceful places for people to visit and reflect.
It is Westerleigh Group’s tradition to dedicate a new crematorium to its community, an occasion which usually takes place approximately 12 months after its opening.
The service was led by Reverend Phelim O’Hare, the Area Dean for Kings Norton, Moseley and Shirley in the Diocese of Birmingham, assisted by Reverend Chloe Hewitt, Curate at St Chads Church in Rubery, local celebrant Samantha Pitt and soloist Kevin Ward.
Reverend O’Hare spoke of the importance of families being able to mourn in beautiful and peaceful surroundings, such as those at Waseley Hills.
All the addresses spoke of the exceptional care that has been given to the bereaved by the Waseley Hills team since the crematorium opened.
The congregation sang two hymns before Kevin Ward, accompanied by Steve Cowperthwaite, sang the Ave Verum before ending with a memorable version of Bridge Over Troubled Water, with the last verse suitably adapted for the occasion.
Waseley Hills Crematorium Manager Joy Edgington said: “We’re very pleased to have hosted this special event and dedicated our beautiful crematorium to the community we serve.
“We are proud of how we have engaged with our bereaved families and local communities since we opened.
“We’re a welcoming place where people find comfort, not just on the day of their loved one’s final farewell but also at other times, to have a permanent place of remembrance for a loved one in our memorial gardens or just have quiet moments of reflection in the fitting and peaceful environment of our beautiful grounds.
“We have helped provide many uniquely personal funeral services and will continue to assist families should they wish to have something a little different, in addition to accommodating those who prefer traditional funerals.”
