Coronavirus (COVID-19): cemetery and crematorium updates
In light of the current situation, we've closed the office at Rochdale cemetery. However, you can visit by appointment by calling the office on 01706 645219.
Services will continue but with some changes to help us protect you and our staff members. We've contacted local funeral directors to let them know about these changes.
We'll continue to monitor the situation closely, carefully and frequently and will update this website with any changes.
Safer funerals
Following new government guidance on the number of mourners allowed at funeral services, we've reviewed the space in all our chapels and crematoriums to allow safe services. We've implemented appropriate social distancing measures as a result.
Attendance should continue to be restricted to:
- Members of the person's household
- Close family members or close friends if close family members are unable to attend
- A celebrant of choice if the bereaved request this.
Public Health England has published guidance to ensure funerals are conducted safely, consistent with social distancing principles.
Funeral service changes
- Graveside burial services will be a maximum of 30 with social distancing observed.
- Each chapel will have the maximum capacity:
- Rochdale Crematorium: maximum 22 mourners
- Middleton Crematorium: maximum 18 mourners
- Rochdale burial chapel: maximum 21 mourners
- Heywood burial chapel: maximum 16 mourners
- People who are self-isolating, vulnerable or who are showing symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) should not attend a funeral service.
- Following church guidance, singing is currently prohibited.
- Please use hand sanitiser at the entrance to the chapel.
- If invited to attend a service in the chapel, you must wear a face covering, unless exempt - see when to wear a face covering, exemptions and how to make a face covering
- The system at the chapel will remain one-way and we'll continue to clean the chapel in between services.
- Donation boxes should not be brought to the chapel, inside or outside.
- We've removed service books from the chapels as a precaution and are discouraging handshaking.
- Service prior to burial and extended services in the chapel can now be booked.
- Live webcasting for services held in chapels at Rochdale and Middleton crematoriums are now available. You'll need to contact your funeral director for further information. While we appreciate this cannot replace attending in person, it allows family and friends to pay their respects and join the service online. We have currently waived the fee for this service.
Cremation changes
- Burial and scattering of cremated remains can now be arranged.
- You're not able to place any ashes in the memorial sanctums for the time being.
- The office is currently only open to Funeral Directors only. Please call in advance on 01706 645219 to collect cremated remains.
Find out about cemeteries and cremations in Rochdale borough.
Location of cemeteries and crematoriums
We've 6 cemeteries and 2 crematoriums at the following locations around the borough.
| Cemetery | Location | Facilities |
|---|
| Dearnley cemetery | Arm Road
Littleborough
OL15 8NJ
Find Dearnley cemetery on a map | Water taps are available for fresh flowers. There are no buildings or toilets on site at this cemetery. |
| Denehurst cemetery | 163 Sandy Lane
Rochdale
OL11 5DY
Find Denehurst cemetery on a map | Water taps are available for fresh flowers. There are no buildings or toilets on site.
Denehurst cemetery opened in 2015. It's situated within the beautiful surroundings of Denehurst Park. |
| Heywood cemetery | Rochdale Road East
Heywood
OL10 1RL
Find Heywood cemetery on a map | Cemetery chapel for holding funeral services, toilets, water taps, seating and a new woodland memorial garden for cremated remains.
View a map of the plots at Heywood Cemetery (546kb pdf) |
| Middleton (Boarshaw) cemetery and crematorium | Boarshaw Road
Middleton
M24 2PN
Find Middleton (Boarshaw) cemetery on a map | The cemetery and crematorium chapel for holding funeral services have toilets, water taps, a book of remembrance room, seating and memorial gardens. The crematorium chapel also has a hearing loop installed.
The cemetery has Green Flag status and a Friends Group who take an active part in the running of the cemetery. |
| Middleton old cemetery | St Leonard's Street
Middleton
Find Middleton old cemetery on a map | There are no buildings or toilets or other facilities on site at this cemetery.
Very few burials are now held here as the cemetery is full. The cemetery lies within a heritage site area. |
| Rochdale cemetery and crematorium | Bury Road
Rochdale
OL11 4DG
Find Rochdale cemetery on a map | The crematorium chapel and separate cemetery chapel for holding funeral services have toilets, water taps, a book of remembrance room, seating and memorial gardens. The crematorium chapel also has a hearing loop installed.
The administrative centre for the cemetery and cremation service for the whole borough is based here. |
Opening times of cemetery grounds
The grounds of all our cemeteries are open every day at the times listed in the table below. This includes the book of remembrance rooms and the memorial gardens.
| Month | Opening times |
|---|
| January | 9am - 4.30pm |
| February | 9am - 5.30pm |
| March | 9am - 6.30pm |
| April | 9am - 6.30pm |
| May | 9am - 7.30pm |
| June | 9am - 7.30pm |
| July | 9am - 7.30pm |
| August | 9am - 7.30pm |
| September | 9am - 6.30pm |
| October | 9am - 5.30pm |
| November | 9am - 4.30pm |
| December | 9am - 4.30pm |
Times of our cremation services
Our cremation services are held Monday-Friday between 10am-3pm. Services are usually scheduled every 40 minutes but you're able to book a double slot if you'd like a longer service.
How to book a cremation
If you're looking to have a cremation at one of our crematoriums, your funeral director will need to request this on your behalf. They can get in touch with us using the contact details on this page.
Metal recycling scheme
Recycling metals from a loved one following their cremation is a sensitive subject and we only do so with the express consent of the next of kin.
Following a cremation, there can sometimes be pieces of metal left over, such as from a tooth filling, a steel hip replacement, pins used to repair a bone fracture or from parts of the coffin.
It's possible to recycle these metals through a nationwide scheme run by the
Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management. We donate all the proceeds from the scheme to local charities who provide services and support for bereaved residents.
Request the money generated from recycling metals after a cremation
If you're a local charity who offers bereavement services to borough residents, you can apply to receive a donation from the money we've generated by recycling metals after a cremation.
Please email us on
environmental.management@rochdale.gov.uk to ask for an application.
Finding a grave in our cemeteries
If you'd like to find the location of a loved one's grave, you can access the burial records.
Burial records give the date and place someone was buried. The records can also sometimes include the grave number and a map showing the location of the grave in the cemetery.