St Helens Crematorium - St Helens Borough Council
St Helen’s Borough Council’s crematorium and cemetery off the East Lancs road in Merseyside serves its local community with two types of cremations, a short committal service, or as a place where a full service can take place.
Modernisation works allowed the council to develop the range of services in a cohesive and modern style and bring the crematorium up to the highest standards, with a £3.5 million project finished in 2022.
The new interior was designed to reflect the large Dalle de Verre stained glass windows by Pierre Fourmaintreaux of Powell & Sons glass, the main feature of the Harry Bannister designed chapel.
One of the principal improvements was the change of layout to the main chapel, with a new central committal space being created to allow clearer viewing of the coffin on the catafalque during a service. This has motorised tracks for curtains and voiles, giving families the option of how they want to say goodbye. The subtly textured curtains mirror the lead work of the stained glass. The oak catafalque made by Treske has carefully design fretwork panels to reflect the stained glass windows. This fretwork detail was repeated on the complimentary furniture including flower stands, console tables and organ surround. The lectern design also incorporates the latest AV technology and rise and fall mechanism for accessibility for all users.
Treske supplied chapel chair seating for 130 with upholstered seats for comfort and, to reflect the colouring of the glass windows, the seating is framed at the front by oak frontals with pierced fretwork panels.
The restoration of a small chapel adjacent to the main chapel, allows for smaller and more intimate services as well as remembrance events and grief counselling sessions.
With this in mind Treske designed and manufactured the mobile catafalque to be removed from the chapel entirely. The smaller lectern is also easily removed if required to create an intimate gathering space. The oak catafalque, lectern and benches feature the same punctuation details as the windows.
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Cheltenham Crematorium
Treske were commissioned to design and make bespoke crematoria furniture for the two chapels. Catafalques, adjustable height lecterns, sofa seating, upholstered seats and committal curtains were part of the commission.
Memoria, North Oxford
Treske supplied Memoria's North Oxfordshire Memorial Park with bespoke crematorium furniture, including the catafalque, lectern, committal curtains and tracking, as well as flower stands and bespoke seating in the form of matching sofas and chairs.
Guildford Crematorium
The new furniture consisted of a bespoke catafalque, console table, ambo-style lectern incorporating audio visual controls, and the main committal curtains and voile.
