Across the UK, more and more people are choosing non-religious funerals as a way to celebrate life in a unique and personalised style. Whether you identify as atheist, agnostic, or simply prefer a secular approach, some options allow you to bid farewell in a beautiful alternative to a churchyard or a crematorium.
Non-religious funerals offer a departure from traditional religious ceremonies, providing a platform for a more personalised farewell. These ceremonies focus on celebrating the life lived rather than adhering to religious rituals. They allow for creativity and flexibility, encouraging mourners to share stories, memories, and anecdotes that truly capture the essence of the departed.
For those seeking an alternative to traditional churchyards, natural burial grounds present a serene and eco-friendly option. Delliefure Woodland Burial Ground offers a peaceful final resting place surrounded by nature.
Natural burial grounds prioritise environmental sustainability. The absence of traditional headstones and the use of biodegradable coffins contribute to a more eco-friendly final resting place.
Set in a picturesque location in Oxfordshire, the burial ground provides a tranquil and beautiful backdrop, creating a serene environment for reflection and remembrance.
Rather than traditional headstones, Henley woodland burial ground offers alternative memorial options such as planting a tree or engraving a plaque, allowing for a lasting tribute.
A non-religious service is a ceremony that celebrates life, milestones, or events without incorporating religious traditions. These services often are led by a secular celebrant, humanist officiant, or a chosen friend/family member.
The ceremony may include speeches, readings, memories and non-religious music, with a focus on personalisation and inclusivity. Symbolic gestures like lighting candles, raising a toast of their favourite drink or planting a tree may be incorporated. Alternatively, a moment of reflection allows attendees to contemplate or remember in their own way. The overall tone is one of celebration, emphasising humanist principles, personal values, and positive memories.
For more information on non-religious funerals and natural burial grounds, feel free to reach out to our knowledgeable team. We are here to support you and help you create a farewell that is as unique and special as the life being celebrated.
At the Henley On Thames Woodland Burial Ground, you can purchase a burial plot or an ashes plot, either ahead of time or for someone who has died.
The burial ground offers somewhere special to spend time listening to the birdsong in the surrounding woodland, admiring nature, and taking in the view of the area. A place of escape, away from the it all and in a peaceful, serene and tranquil setting.
Follow Greys road from Henley-On-Thames towards Rotherfield Greys.
We recommend that before you purchase a burial or interment plot from us, you go to visit the burial ground, to make sure it is the right place for you and your family.
You can visit the burial ground without making an appointment. The pedestrian access gate is always unlocked. Or if you would like a guided tour around the ground, please get in touch with the custodian, who will be happy to meet you there.
Whether you're arranging a funeral now or planning for the future, we have put together information packs for you to download.
The tranquillity of the burial ground at Rotherfield Greys, just outside Henley, is typical of the surrounding landscape of the Chilterns. Unhurried, tranquil and private, it offers something gentler. A place of escape, away from it all.