The main difference is that Humanist celebrants lead non-religious funerals that focus purely on the deceased’s life and secular values, adhering strictly to a non-religious framework.

In contrast, Independent celebrants are much more flexible and can conduct either an entirely secular ceremony or a service that, should you wish, incorporates religious, cultural or spiritual elements. So if you would like the option to include hymns, a prayer or any cultural or family traditions, I can offer you the flexibility to do so.

One of the biggest benefits of a celebrant-led funeral is their openness and inclusivity. They allow you to create a ceremony that is a true reflection of the deceased.

Many feel that typical funerals of the past don’t offer any emotional weight or offer a truly loving goodbye because they often don’t reflect or capture the spirit of the loved one who has died. However, an Independent funeral celebrant will hope to bring a sense of light to the ceremony, reminding the mourners that the person who has died lived a unique and meaningful life. It also gives you the flexibility to factor in different beliefs and wishes, should you want to,
without being tied to a specific religious structure.

This will be included as part of the costs you pay the funeral director for their services.

As part of my role as celebrant, I will carry out a home visit to talk to close members of the family to have a chat and ask for information, stories, anecdotes and memories of your loved one. Some of the things you might like to think about in advance are:

– Where and when the deceased was born and grew up
– Siblings and family members they grew up with
– School days and stories from their childhood
– Partners, children, grandchildren and other significant family members
– Closest friends and friendship groups
– Were they in the Armed forces/did National Service
– Careers and places of work
– Groups and societies belonged to
– Interests, hobbies and special achievements
– Favourite memories shared about them
– Musical tastes
– Other significant life events
– What you will most remember them for?
– Did the deceased make any personal requests about their own funeral?
– Will any friends or family be speaking at/reading a poem/participating in the service?

It’s completely up to you. Many people leave the bulk of the funeral to the Celebrant, which is completely normal and understandable in the circumstances.

However, if you’d like a family member or friend to give the euology, carry out a reading or recite a poem, that’s lovely and we can discuss it as part of my home visit when we talk everything through. Should you wish for hymns, songs, or a prayer to be included in the ceremony, that is also fine and can be easily arranged.

There will, of course, be an order to the service on the day but it is entirely up to you as to whether you want to devise a printed order of service to hand out to attendees at the funeral. Personally, I think it’s a nice thing to have a printed Order of Service with a lovely photo of the deceased on the front  and a reminder of what was read and possibly sung during the service. The Funeral Director can assist you with printing this.

Yes, as an Independent celebrant I can hold a service/celebration of life anywhere you wish it to be. If a cremation is required, this can be arranged to take place separately. Again, your funeral director can provide guidance on this matter.