What is a funeral celebrant?

A funeral celebrant crafts and leads personalised funeral ceremonies that celebrate the life and character of the deceased. By collaborating closely with the bereaved family, the celebrant gathers stories and details to create a meaningful tribute, or eulogy. They also shape the entire funeral ceremony, including appropriate readings, music, and other elements that reflect the individual's personality and beliefs. Celebrants work alongside funeral directors to ensure the funeral ceremony proceeds smoothly and respectfully.

What is the difference between a civil celebrant and a humanist celebrant?

They key difference is about religion. A humanist celebrant will not include any religious content in a funeral, regardless of the beliefs of the deceased or their family. A civil celebrant is not attached to any church or other belief system, and is free to include as much or as little religious content as you decide is fitting. That said, if you want a truly religious ceremony, it is generally better to work with a member of the clergy.

For the record, I personally do not have any religious belief. However, it is my role to be 100% respectful of your beliefs and those of the deceased.

What does it cost to use me as your funeral celebrant?

Your funeral director will usually recommend a celebrant and put you in touch. In this situation, the celebrant’s fee is included in the overall cost of the funeral. It will be itemised as an expense, typically around £180-200. You can also come directly to me, where my fee for celebrancy is fixed at £200. This includes writing the eulogy, of course.

What are the costs for your other services?

My standard fee for eulogy writing is £200. This where I work with one person who provides all the information. If you’d like me to talk to more than one member of the family directly, I charge an extra £50 per person.

My fee for creating a 10-minute video tribute will be around £750. I’ll confirm the exact price before we start, once we’ve had a chat.

Fees for arranging memorial ceremonies and living funerals depend on many factors. It’s best to have a chat first so I can work out a cost based on your requirements.

What types of funerals do you conduct?

I offer a range of services, including:

• Traditional cremations (crematorium)

• Traditional burials (cemetery)

• Natural woodland burials

• Memorial services

• Scattering of ashes ceremonies

• Eulogy writing

While funerals are commonly held in crematoriums or cemeteries, other venues are possible, such as natural burial grounds, community halls, private gardens, or even at sea. The choice depends on the family's wishes and the deceased's preferences.

Funerals are changing. Today, people want more personalisation, more choice over location and format, and greater freedom to say goodbye to a loved one in a way that they see fit. I am 100% behind this movement and encourage you to talk to me with any thoughts or ideas you may have about organising a funeral.

What happens when somebody dies?

The usual course of events is that you contact a funeral director and they will guide you through the process. At an early stage, the funeral director will contact a celebrant on your behalf. They will then reach out to you to arrange a meeting at a convenient time to discuss the ceremony details. You can, of course, contact a celebrant directly.

What can I expect during our meeting?

As your celebrant, my role is to write and deliver the funeral service. This includes everything that happens inside the crematorium or at the graveside.

Our discussion will centre on the deceased person's life and character, enabling me to write a fitting eulogy. Or I can support you if you choose to do this yourself. We'll also talk about your preferences for music, readings, prayers, photographs, and reflection, as well as who might have an active role in the ceremony. This collaborative process ensures the ceremony is personalised and meaningful.

Our meeting will probably last for a couple of hours. If you like, I can send you some fact-finding questions in advance, which will make our time together even more effective.

Following our meeting, I will draft a ceremony outline and eulogy, and over the coming days we’ll shape a fitting funeral ceremony.

Can family and friends participate in the service?

Yes, absolutely. I encourage involvement from family and friends, whether through sharing memories, reading poems, or offering prayers. Such participation adds a personal touch to the ceremony. If someone prefers not to speak publicly, I'm happy to present their contributions on their behalf.

Can I plan my own funeral?

Yes, absolutely. Pre-planning your funeral allows you to specify your preferences, like favourite music , poetry, or other readings. You can select which photos and videos you would like to be shared, and any other meaningful elements. And you can choose to tell your own stories about your life, rather than relying on somebody else deciding what’s important.

It’s also worth considering that planning your own funeral can ease the process for loved ones left behind.

Do you have any qualifications?

Yes, I have completed the National Qualification NOCN Level 3 Diploma in Funeral Celebrancy, which is the highest qualification in this field in the UK. This rigorous training ensures that I can create and deliver personalised and sensitive ceremonies in a highly professional manner.

If you have further questions or need more information, please don't hesitate to contact me.