The Cremation Society of Great Britain was founded in 1874 to substitute cremation for burial as a means of disposing of the dead. It built the first British crematorium, which was brought into use after cremation was declared lawful in 1884. About 70% of funerals in Great Britain now involve a cremation and there are about 230 crematoria in Great Britain, of which more than 75% are municipally owned. The Cremation Society now concentrates on education and ensuring that the highest ethical and operational standards are maintained in the conduct of cremations. These it seeks to demonstrate at four crematoria run by its subsidiary, the London Cremation Company