What Happens To the Coffin After the Curtains Closes at a Funeral

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What Happens To the Coffin After the Curtains Closes at a Funeral? | Funeral FAQS

What Happens When the Curtains Close at a UK Crematorium?

In a crematorium where the curtains close around the coffin, or we leave the chapel, what happens to that coffin? Behind the catafalque, which is the thing the coffin was placed on, are hidden doors, or some mechanism by which the coffin could be transported on rollers through into another building, which is called the crematory.

Within the crematory are the cremators, and the coffin is put in front of the cremator, the doors will open and a hydraulic ram on the trolley will push the coffin very quickly into the cremator. The door closed behind it, and the process, which is computerized, then takes place. Now, for many religions, Hindus and Sikhs in particular, witnessing that charging, is important to them as they would normally in their own religion, have the cremation take place on an open pyre. That can be accommodated by most crematoria with limited numbers of people.

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Tonbridge Funeral Directors

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Bromley & Chislehurst Funeral Directors

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Borough Green Funeral Directors

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Sevenoaks Funeral Directors

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156 London Rd, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1DJ

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Swanley Funeral Directors

Welham Jones Funerals and Memorials
31 Station Rd, Swanley BR8 8ES

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Tunbridge Wells Funeral Directors

Welham Jones Funerals and Memorials
39 Crescent Rd, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2JZ

Tel: 01892 300330

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Chelsfield & Orpington Funeral Directors

Welham Jones Funerals and Memorials
9 Windsor Dr, Chelsfield, Orpington BR6 6EY

Tel: 01689 452525

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by Rebecca Welham

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11 Mar 2026

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by Simon Welham

Choosing a funeral director in Borough Green, Orpington and Chelsfield, Chislehurst and Bromley, Sevenoaks, Swanley, Tonbridge or Tunbridge Wells means placing your trust in people who will care for your loved one with dignity at every step. By getting to know the team at Welham Jones, you can feel reassured that your funeral arrangements are guided by compassion, respect and genuine human understanding.

04 Mar 2026

Local funeral director’s annual Easter egg appeal 2026

by Simon Welham

Every year, we host a number of food collections across our branches to support the communities we serve. Now, as we begin Lent, we are holding our annual Easter egg appeal to help supply food banks and hospices across West Kent and South East London.