Medway
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Bereavement Services
Following the death of a loved one, Medway Council's Bereavement Services can provide advice and practical support relating to burials, cremations, cemeteries and memorials. The team works closely with funeral directors, hospitals and the Register Office to help ensure funeral arrangements run as smoothly as possible.
Bereavement Services can help with:
- Burial enquiries
- Cremation enquiries
- Purchasing graves
- Re-opening existing graves
- Memorial permits
- Ashes interments
- Cemetery records
- Genealogy enquiries
- Public Health Funerals
Medway Bereavement Services
Address Medway Crematorium
Robin Hood Lane
Blue Bell Hill
Chatham
Kent ME5 9QU
Telephone 01634 337744
Email funerals@medway.gov.uk
Website https://www.medway.gov.uk/bereavementservices
Description
Medway Bereavement Services manages Medway Crematorium together with the council's cemeteries. The team provides advice on burials, cremations, memorials and grave ownership, helping families through the practical arrangements following a bereavement.
Helpful Information
Medway Bereavement Services also provides guidance on:
- Burial fees and charges
- Memorial safety
- Scattering or interring ashes
- Chapel bookings
- Grave ownership transfers
- Cemetery regulations
- Public Health Funerals
If you are unsure who to contact after someone has died, Bereavement Services can usually direct you to the appropriate department.
Cemeteries
Medway Council manages four municipal cemeteries, all of which are available for burials, the interment of cremated remains and memorials. These cemeteries are maintained by Medway Bereavement Services and provide both consecrated and non-consecrated burial areas. Chatham and Woodlands Cemeteries also have dedicated Roman Catholic and Muslim burial sections. All enquiries regarding burials, grave ownership, memorial permits and cemetery records should be as to Medway Bereavement Services.
Telephone: 01634 337744
Email: funerals@medway.gov.uk
Chatham Cemetery
Address
Maidstone Road
Chatham
Kent ME4
Telephone 01634 337744
Website https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200157/deaths/48/burials
Chapel Seating Capacity 40 people
Description Chatham Cemetery is one of Medway's oldest municipal cemeteries and provides burial plots, cremated remains plots and memorial facilities in peaceful surroundings. It includes dedicated Roman Catholic and Muslim burial areas.
Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham
Address
Woodlands Road
Gillingham
Kent ME7
Telephone 01634 337744
Website https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200157/deaths/48/burials
Chapel Seating Capacity 60 people
Description Woodlands Cemetery is Medway's largest cemetery and offers traditional burials, cremated remains plots and memorial gardens. It serves families from across Medway and neighbouring areas and includes dedicated Roman Catholic and Muslim burial sections.
Rochester Cemetery
Address Maidstone Road
Rochester
Kent ME1
Telephone 01634 337744
Website https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200157/deaths/48/burials
Chapel Seating Capacity 40 people
Description Rochester Cemetery provides burial and memorial facilities in a quiet setting and is maintained throughout the year by Medway Bereavement Services. Cremated remains may also be interred here.
Strood Cemetery
Address Cuxton Road
Strood
Kent ME2
Telephone 01634 337744
Website https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200157/deaths/48/burials
Chapel Seating Capacity 50 people
Description
Strood Cemetery serves the Strood and surrounding communities, providing burial plots, cremated remains plots and memorial facilities in a well-maintained environment.
Coroner
Kent and Medway Coroner Service
Address Coroner Service Team
Oakwood House
Oakwood Park
Maidstone
Kent ME16 8AE
Telephone 03000 410502
Email KentandMedwayCoroners@kent.gov.uk
Website https://www.kent.gov.uk/births-ceremonies-and-deaths/deaths/deaths-reported-to-the-coroner
Description
The Kent and Medway Coroner Service investigates deaths that fall within the Coroner's legal duties across Kent and Medway. Coroners work independently of the council and make decisions about whether a post-mortem examination or inquest is required.
Crematorium
Medway Crematorium
Robin Hood Lane
Blue Bell Hill
Chatham
Kent ME5 9QU
Telephone 01634 337744
Email funerals@medway.gov.uk
Website https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200157/deaths/50/medway_crematorium
Facilities
- Two modern multi-faith chapels
- Seating for up to 115 mourners in each chapel
- Additional standing room for approximately 30 people
- Public waiting rooms
- Open-air flower court
- Chapel of Meditation
- Gardens of Remembrance
- Book of Remembrance
- Visual tribute screens
- Live webcasting and recording services
- Digital music system
- Free Wi-Fi in both chapels
- Free on-site parking
- Designated disabled parking bays
- Wheelchair available on request
- Accessible toilets
- Full disabled access throughout the crematorium.
Description
The crematorium has been extensively modernised over recent years, including the installation of environmentally efficient cremators, upgraded chapels and improved audio-visual equipment. Funeral services can be personalised with music, photographs, videos and live streaming for family and friends who cannot attend in person. The grounds provide a peaceful place for quiet reflection throughout the year, with mature trees, landscaped gardens and a dedicated Chapel of Meditation that is open every day.
Memorial Options
Families can choose from a wide range of memorials, including:
- Book of Remembrance
- Memorial plaques
- Rose bushes
- Trees and shrubs
- Kerb plaques
- Memorial benches
- Gardens of Remembrance for the scattering or interment of cremated remains
Information about memorials and current fees is available from Medway Bereavement Services.
Funeral Directors
T. Allen Funeral Service
146 Frindsbury Road
Strood
Rochester
Kent ME2 4JB
Telephone
01634 722273
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
24-hour service available
Description
An independent, family-run funeral director serving Medway for many years, offering traditional, contemporary and bespoke funeral services together with pre-paid funeral plans.
John Weir Funeral Directors
130–132 High Street
Rainham
Gillingham
Kent ME8 8AR
Telephone
01634 377722
Website
Description
A well-established independent funeral director with branches across Medway, providing burial, cremation, green funerals, direct cremations and memorial services.
Stephen P. Gay Funeral Service
7 City Way
Rochester
Kent ME1 2AA
Telephone
01634 845213
Website
https://www.stephenpgayfunerals.co.uk
Description
A long-established independent funeral director offering personalised funeral arrangements and compassionate support to families throughout Medway.
Co-op Funeralcare
Address
95–97 High Street
Rainham
Gillingham
Kent ME8 8AA
Telephone
01634 365350
Website
https://www.coop.co.uk/funeralcare
Description
Part of the nationwide Co-op Funeralcare network, offering traditional funerals, direct cremations, funeral plans and memorial services.
E.C. Alderwick & Son
70–72 Delce Road
Rochester
Kent ME1 2DQ
Telephone
01634 843111
Website
Description
An independent family funeral director with generations of experience, offering traditional funerals, bespoke services and pre-paid funeral plans.
Medway Funeral Directors
232 High Street
Chatham
Kent ME4 4AN
Telephone
01634 570111
Website
https://www.medwayfuneraldirectors.co.uk
Description
An independent funeral director serving families across Medway, providing personal funeral arrangements, cremation and burial services with round-the-clock support.
Hospitals
If a loved one dies in hospital, the hospital's Bereavement Team will guide you through the next steps. They will explain when the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) has been completed, advise when it has been sent to the Register Office and answer any questions you may have about the process.
Medway Maritime Hospital
Windmill Road
Gillingham
Kent ME7 5NY
Telephone (Main Switchboard) 01634 830000
Website https://www.medway.nhs.uk
Bereavement Office The Bereavement Team will contact the next of kin when all the necessary paperwork has been completed. They can advise on collecting documents, the Medical Examiner process and what happens next.
Opening Hours Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). Please contact the Bereavement Office for current opening hours before attending.
Register Office
Medway Register Office
Medway Register Office
Northgate
The Precinct
Rochester
Kent ME1 1LS
Telephone 01634 338899
Email register.office@medway.gov.uk
Website https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200157/deaths/40/register_a_death
Appointments Death registrations are by appointment only. Once the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) has been received, the Register Office will advise you on booking your appointment. (medway.gov.uk)