Burial Services
At H J Newington Independent Family Funeral Directors, we are here to facilitate the wishes of your loved one by carrying out a professional, personal, caring, and dignified burial service, including all aspects and desires of those having to arrange the funeral service.
We are fortunate to have a selection of burial grounds with exceptional views scattered Across East & West Sussex.
From a traditional burial to an eco-friendly burial, H J Newington is on hand 24/7 to provide the families we serve with the option and information needed to decide on the deceased’s final resting place.
On this page, you will find information about local burial grounds in Sussex and the surrounding areas, along with information on what happens at a burial service and more.
We hope that this information gives you the answers you may be looking for, but if you feel you would like to speak to someone and discuss a burial service in more detail, please do not hesitate to call us on 01273 030717 anytime, day or night.
What is a burial?
A burial is a ceremony held after the main funeral service, where mourners attend the graveside service and pay their respects as the coffin is lowered into the grave.
Does a burial have to be religious?
It is entirely up to you if you want the service to be religious or non-religious. A religious service will usually be conducted by an ordained minister or member of the clergy from a specific faith or religion.
A non-religious ceremony can have a civil celebrant or officiant from the humanist society, or you may choose to have no service at all.
Why choose a burial?
The decision between a burial or cremation depends on many different aspects. Religious beliefs may affect the decision between a burial or cremation, and if you’re looking at arranging an eco-friendly funeral, a burial may be more suitable.
One of the most common questions we get asked is, “Why choose burial over cremation?”. If you are unable to decide, we have provided a list of burial benefits to help simplify your decision.
Permanent gravesite to visit
One of the main benefits of choosing a burial for your loved one is that it provides a permanent memorial for families and friends to visit and reflect on.
For many people, having space at a cemetery where they can physically visit their loved ones may help with their grieving process.
Visiting the grave at a cemetery is a sacred and special event, allowing mourners to feel connected to those who have passed. For some families, this is a significant advantage of burial over cremation.
Traditional choice
Burial services tend to be the more traditional choice.
It is very common for people to consider burial the default method of saying their final goodbye and honouring their loved one.
When they think of a funeral, most people generally envision a casket burial service following the ceremony.
Natural & peaceful surroundings
Many people find cemeteries peaceful, beautiful, and a natural fit for a final resting place.
What better place to celebrate life than under the open sky, beneath trees, or beside flowers? No matter the cemetery where your loved one’s burial service is held at, the emotional and spiritual comforts of the natural surroundings will be felt by many.
Allows for a proper farewell
A funeral with a burial service is a comforting way to mourn, find closure, and deal with grief. Witnessing the coffin being lowered into the ground gives people the closure they need during that time and is seen by many as a proper goodbye.
Being with your loved ones
With burials, your final resting place can be right beside your spouse and family members. For example, if a husband passes away and is buried, his wife will likely be buried beside them. They can be laid to rest side by side for eternity.
We can arrange for loved ones to be buried together, but it is always best to let us know before the funeral takes place, as some burial grounds do not allow for additional grave depths.
What happens at a Burial Service?
Before the funeral
Our caring family funeral director will meet with you and your family at their home or the deceased’s home with the hearse and processional vehicles.
Mourners will then be driven to the funeral service.
Alternatively, the family can meet the funeral procession at the funeral venue if they feel that it is too emotional to travel in the cortege behind the hearse.
After the service
Family members may line up outside of the venue to greet people as they leave the funeral.
The hearse and cortege will then travel to the cemetery or woodland burial ground, where the deceased will make their final journey, followed by family and friends.
If you have chosen to have Pallbearers, the funeral director will guide the chosen bearers to carry your loved ones coffin and walk to the graveside.
At the graveside
The coffin will be lowered into the grave by pallbearers, the officiant or minister may say a few words and invite family and friends to place flowers and earth into the grave.
Once the funeral services have taken place, the grave will be filled once family members have left, unless the family would like to participate.
We understand how important this decision is and want to help ensure you make the most suitable choice where one of our caring and compassionate funeral arrangers will be able to assist you on 01273 030717.
Local Cemeteries
We work with a range of cemeteries across the area, each with its own unique history and character. Our experienced team can provide advice on which cemetery may be best suited for your loved one based on their individual needs and preferences.
Whether you’re looking for a traditional burial plot, a green burial site, or a family plot, we can help you find the perfect option. We also offer support and guidance when it comes to choosing headstones and memorials, ensuring that you can create a fitting tribute to your loved one’s life.
The council own and manage seven cemeteries, covering almost 170 acres, to the highest standard possible. This is in accordance with the requirements of statutory law, bylaws and customs, including religious and ethnic considerations.
To find out more information, please click here.
Burial Locations
For those who choose burial, we can provide advice and support when it comes to choosing a cemetery. We work with a range of local cemeteries and can help you find the perfect final resting place for your loved one’s service.
Our team can provide guidance on everything from selecting a suitable burial plot to choosing the right headstone or memorial. We understand that every family’s needs are different, which is why we work closely with you to ensure that your loved one’s final wishes are honoured.
At H J Newington Independent Funeral Directors, we are committed to providing our clients with compassionate and comprehensive support during this difficult time. Contact us today to learn more about our burial and cemetery services.
Worthing Crematorium
Horsham Road
Findon
West Sussex
BN14 0RQ
Surrey & Sussex Crematorium
Balcombe Road
Crawley
West Sussex
RH10 3NQ
Woodingdean Lawn Memorial Cemetery
Warren Road
Woodingdean
Brighton
Woodland Valley Natural Burial Ground
Warren Road
Woodingdean
Brighton
BN2 6DX
Lancing and Sompting Cemetery
Upper Boundstone Lane
Lancing
West Sussex
BN15 0PB
Clayton Wood Natural Burial Ground
Brighton Road
Clayton
West Sussex
BN6 9PD
More information...
The below pages will give you related information about other types of funeral and how we can help support you.