Memorial gardens
For the burial or placing of ashes, we offer a choice of private or communal gardens in different styles and locations within our grounds.
Rated 4.5/5
Bentley Crematorium & Cemetery
When someone dies in Brentwood, Bentley is often where the family gathers to say goodbye. The crematorium opened in 2012 and the grounds have been planted and tended ever since, so there's shade in summer and colour most of the year. The chapel is full of daylight, the paths through the gardens of remembrance are level and easy to walk, and you're welcome here whenever you want to come back.
The chapel takes 99 seated and around 100 standing, and the car park holds about 70. Families come to Bentley from Chelmsford, Basildon and Romford as well as Brentwood. If people cannot travel, the service can be watched online. Our funeral directors in Basildon can help you arrange a funeral here.
Reviews for Dignity Group
- Included:Over 200 years of caring for families
- Included:Local service from 558 branches
- Included:Funerals, plans, probate and more
Arranging a funeral at Bentley Crematorium & Cemetery
To hold a funeral here, speak to your local Dignity funeral director. They'll book the chapel, settle the paperwork with the crematorium and talk you through the choices at whatever pace suits you.
There's no rush, and no question is too small. You don't need to have anything worked out before you call.
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A chapel for every faith and belief
Ceremonies in our chapel can be arranged entirely around your customs, traditions and preferences. Let your funeral director know what matters to you, and they’ll take care of everything.
Memorials – a lasting tribute to someone special
Ask your funeral director about arranging a memorial at Bentley Crematorium & Cemetery.
Plaques or dedications
If you choose to scatter or keep the ashes, a plaque in our memorial grounds or dedication in the Book of Remembrance creates a lasting tribute for loved ones to visit.
Keepsakes and urns
Keep their memory close with a daily reminder of the person they were. From the traditional to the contemporary.
Visiting us
- Ongar Road, Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9RZ
- 01277 289111
Crematorium Office Opening Hours
Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm
Crematorium Grounds Opening Hours
Monday-Sunday: 8am-7pm (April-October),
8am-5pm (November-March)
Book of Remembrance Opening Hours
Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm
Cemetery Opening Times
Monday-Sunday: 8am – 5pm (October - April),
8am-7pm (May - September)
Our funeral directors near Bentley Crematorium & Cemetery
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What to expect at a cremation
Attending a ceremony
Each service here has a set length, and it varies from one crematorium to another. Your funeral director will tell you how long you have, let you know when to arrive and where to gather, and keep an eye on the timings on the day so that you don't have to.
The service can include readings, music and time for reflection, led by a minister, celebrant or family member. At the moment of farewell, called the committal, the coffin is lowered or hidden behind a curtain. Some families prefer to leave it in view.
When the service ends, there's usually time to gather outside and speak with other guests. Your funeral director will be there if you have any questions or concerns.
What to wear
Most people wear black or dark clothing but this isn't a rule. Some families ask guests to wear a particular colour or something that meant a lot to the person who has died, like a favourite team's shirt. They may also just want people to wear whatever they're comfortable in. If you've been invited and you're not sure, ask the family.
After the ceremony
The ashes are ready to collect from the crematorium a few days after the cremation. We can also hand-deliver them or scatter them in our memorial grounds for you, whichever you prefer. Some families choose to keep the ashes at home or scatter them somewhere with personal meaning.
A memorial is a lasting place in the world for someone special. Our crematoria offer a range of options, from plaques and benches to planting a tree in the gardens. Memorials can also be arranged after a direct cremation, even if there was no ceremony held at the crematorium itself.
What families say about us
Rated 4.47 / 5 based on 30 reviews.
Rated 5/5
The Crem was well laid out , the Cribbs Funeral team and celebrant (Steve Cheal) did an amazing job for my dad's funeral . Thank you
steve abrahall, 24 December 2025
Rated 5/5
Really great place
lesleytonyb x, 21 August 2025
Rated 5/5
Beautiful place with a small lake. Kept well and we are very pleased that it is the final resting place of our Dad. Always a pleasure to go there.
Darren A. Smith, 21 August 2025
FAQs
We’re here to answer all your questions. If anything isn’t clear, please ask us.
Advice and guidance
Guides on cremation services and what to do with ashes.
Cremation service
What happens at a cremation, the paperwork needed beforehand, how long the service lasts, what shapes the cost, and when the ashes come back to you.
What to do with cremation ashes
Twenty things families have done with ashes – jewellery, tattoos, vinyl records, reefs, fireworks, a planted tree – and the practicalities of each.
Places to scatter ashes in the UK
Nine places families choose to scatter ashes – at home, at sea, on hills, rivers and sports grounds – and the permission each one asks of you first.
Burying ashes
Burying ashes in a cemetery, churchyard, garden of remembrance, woodland ground or your own garden – the permission needed for each, and what it costs.
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