Hi, I'm Karen

Image of Karen Turnbull

Congratulations! Everything has changed for you. Life is not the same as it was. You have a family or a bigger family now.

Yes, countless others have walked this path but your family, your baby, your children are different. They are unique and so very special aren’t they? Let’s celebrate that.

A Ceremony made just for you

I love working with you, listening to your hopes and dreams for your family, crafting a personalised non-religious Ceremony to welcome your precious child, introduce them to your family, friends and wider circle, joining together, engaging and celebrating every generation and sending you on your way as a family.

I really appreciate that you might have had the longest and most difficult of journeys to get here; journeys which have challenged everything you hold dear. Or you might be joining two families, perhaps with a new name? Or you might have spent the longest time on the adoption journey. Now it’s time to formally recognise this rite of passage with a personal Ceremony that’s right for you.

A bit about me

I have lived in North East Essex all my life, working in marketing in different industries and, in recent years in economic development in local government. Over the years my work has led me to meet many inspiring people from all walks of life which I continue to find hugely enjoyable.

My passion for landscapes is indulged on regular walks with my husband, family and friends, together with our beloved dog, Ned, a Parson Russell/Yorkshire Terrier cross. Once a year that indulgence becomes a little more adventurous as I join a group of friends to ski in the mountains in France.

I also took up leathercrafting in lockdown and have been delighted to re-discover my creativity which I lost somewhere along the way.

I am Accredited by Humanists UK for Naming Ceremonies and have been a Celebrant for 6 years. I am also a very experienced speaker and writer for many years in a variety of roles over my career. I’m also DBS Checked and passed. Humanist UK Celebrants are also regularly quality checked and undergo Continuing Professional Development.

Let's have a chat

I would love to work with you and would consider it a privilege to create a meaningful and memorable naming or welcoming ceremony for your family, so why not drop me a line and tell me more about what you’re looking for and how I could help you.

Our experience with Karen was amazing from start to finish. She was so friendly and warm, making us feel we really had made the right choice in having her as our celebrant. Communication was easy and she was really responsive.

We chose to hold our daughter’s naming ceremony at our home on her first birthday and Karen did such a lovely job in incorporating her birthday also. The ceremony was beautiful and there were many tears! Well thought out and planned.

Our friends and family loved it and were very impressed. I think we may have converted a few into booking naming ceremonies instead of Christenings in future!

— C & H, Suffolk. Autumn 2022

We’re so grateful to Karen for writing and delivering such a beautiful naming ceremony for our daughter. She was so warm and approachable, and she spent time getting to know us and our family, which made the ceremony so personal and inclusive.

— Z & T, Colchester. Summer 2022

Karen was so warm and welcoming and immediately put us at ease. She took the time to record every single detail and make the day extra special. She was so organised and helped everything to run smoothly which is just what we needed! She even managed to capture some beautiful photos that I didn’t due to being busy with baby and setting up etc. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her in the future to everyone!

— K & G, Manningtree. Summer 2021

Thank you so much again Karen for such a lovely personal service yesterday. We had a wonderful time and everyone commented on how much of a lovely day it was. We felt your wording in the service really reflected who we are as a family!

Karen was extremely warm, friendly and welcoming to all of us as a family and to our guests on the day of the Naming Ceremony. She ensured she was working to meet our needs every step of the way in planning for our Naming. Thank you so much Karen. I would certainly recommend your services to others!

— L and T, Tiptree. Autumn 2018

Image of Karen Turnbull

Karen Turnbull

Where I work

Essex and Suffolk. Other places, let's talk!

Fees from...

The cost for a naming / welcoming ceremony is £250. Let's have a chat if you're further away. A £100 deposit is requested on booking with the remainder due a week before the ceremony.

How to contact me
Email

karen.turnbull@humanistceremonies.org.uk

Phone

07803 047293

Website

humanist.org.uk/karenturnbull

HUMANIST CEREMONIES™ is the network of more than 550 celebrants, trained by national charity Humanists UK to a gold standard to provide memorable and meaningful humanist ceremonies to non-religious people. Operating throughout England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, we deliver authentic, tailor-made and heartfelt ceremonies for life’s key moments. They are always inclusive and welcoming, regardless of the beliefs of those attending.

You can trust Humanist Ceremonies celebrants: We are DBS-checked, fully insured, and regularly peer reviewed for quality assurance. We are committed to a code of conduct, and have a transparent and robust complaints process in the rare case of a problem. We all pay a monthly fee to Humanists UK to further support the work of the charity, and are part of a regional network for like-minded celebrants for support and learning.

Humanist naming ceremonies

A humanist naming ceremony is a joyous event, and the perfect opportunity to gather friends and family to welcome your child into the world, with no reference to religion. It focuses on the child, their future and the circle of love and support around them, offering a sincere and personal alternative to a christening or other religious ceremony.