Christmas Memorial Service at West Wiltshire Crematorium
West Wiltshire Crematorium is inviting local communities to visit on Thursday 1 December and Thursday 8 December for two different festive season events.
The gatherings provides a valuable opportunity for families and friends to come together and remember their loved ones in the run up to Christmas.
But anyone who, for whatever reason, is not able to attend in person will not miss out, as the events will be made available online through Obitus, the crematorium’s webcast provider.
Thursday 1 December will see the crematorium host a Christmas Memorial Service, between 5pm and 7pm.
This is a more informal event, where non-religious Christmas music will be played in the background within the chapel, and people will be able to write messages to their loved ones on tags which will be added to a memory tree, and they will be able to light candles.
Donations will be welcome for the Cruse Bereavement charity, and refreshments will be available.
The following Thursday, 8 December, will see the crematorium host its annual Christmas Memorial Service, which starts at 6pm.
It will include a mixture of readings and popular Christmas carols, with an organist, a soloist and the local Salvation Army Band performing.
Visitors can again light candles and write messages to their loved ones on tags for the memory tree.
In addition, there will be a photo slideshow on the screen during the service.
Both events are free to attend, however, booking is required for the service on the 8 December by emailing the crematorium: westwilitshire@westerleighgroup.co.uk or calling 01380 871101.
The same email address should be used for submitting images for the photo slideshow for the service on 8 December. These should be submitted by Thursday 24 November and the emails should be headed ‘Christmas service photo slideshow’.
West Wiltshire Crematorium is part of Westerleigh Group, the UK’s largest independent owner-operator of crematoria and cemeteries, with 37 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.
Site Manager Louise Belsey said: “Christmas can be a particularly difficult time of year for families who are missing loved ones, and our annual Christmas Carol and Memorial Service provides a fitting way for people to reflect and honour their loved ones during the festive season.
“For some, especially if they are quite recently bereaved, the festive period is often a time when they feel their loss more, and people can feel lonely.
“This service provides a chance for people to not only pay tribute to their loved ones but also be in the company of other people who are in a similar situation, which in itself can be a source of comfort.
“Whether people are attending here in person, or viewing the service online, we know, from feedback we’ve had in previous years, that the service brings some solace and peace to local people at this time of year.”
Those who wish to view either as a live webcast should visit https://events.obitus.com/, enter the username ‘westwiltshire’ and the password ‘snow’.
For those not able to watch it live, or those who attend but who would like to see them again, they will be available to view within 48 hours of taking place as a ‘watch again’ option, using the same details above, for a period of 28 days.
