Chapel and Crematorium Open Day

A full range of artist’s impressions and plans of the new Hawke’s Bay chapel and crematorium will be on display next Saturday (July 4).

The open day, at the Hawke’s Bay Chapel and Crematorium, will also give members of the public the chance to “meet the team”, take a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility including the current crematorium area to the rear of the chapel, get an insight into the “science of grave digging” and partake of refreshments, said cemetery manager Garry Bowles.

Front and centre, however, will be the plans for the $1.2 million rebuild of the earthquake-prone buildings.

“It gives everyone a chance to see just what we are building. Ours is a facility that a lot of our people will find themselves in at what can be a traumatic time. Knowing what to expect can be very comforting,” Mr Bowles said.

The new cedar clad building, expected to be completed by autumn next year, will feature a wall of glass running almost the full length of the northwest facing side of the chapel, ensuring the inside is flooded with light and warmth. The glass wall will be able to be opened for larger gatherings, so more people can stand under a sheltered porch and see, hear and feel included in the chapel service.

The rebuild was triggered by an assessment of the buildings as earthquake prone and that the layout of the buildings, particularly the crematorium, compromised staff safety.

At the time the project was given its final tick of approval Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule said there was a “strong public service component in the region being able to rely on having a crematorium and chapel that allows people to bury their loved ones with dignity”.

The open day will run between 10am and 3.3pm at the cemetery and crematorium, in Orchard Rd, Hastings.

4 October 2017

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