Hi, I'm Pat
Hello. Thanks for taking a look here.
I’ve been doing naming ceremonies since 2013 – naming ceremonies for twins, for siblings born years apart (the lockdown years played havoc!), namings as part of a wedding ceremony and sadly, but just as importantly, namings as part of a funeral ceremony.
Every naming ceremony is unique, just as every child is unique. Some namings are more like welcoming ceremonies. One of the loveliest welcoming ceremonies I did recently was for a child who had been adopted.
An older child may choose their own name, too. I knew a boy who changed his name when he was a teenager. He didn’t want a ceremony, but if your child does, that’s something I’d be more than happy to consider.
Naming ceremonies aren’t just for children.
If you change your name as an adult and want to mark that change in a meaningful way, I would love to work with you. If you have transitioned, for example, this might be an important landmark for you.
Do have a look at my YouTube channel to find out more about the different kinds of naming I do and see if that’s a good fit.
If you just want to get in touch and ask questions, that’s fine.
And here’s wee bit of background for you:
I’ve been training indirectly for celebrancy since I was in my twenties. I was an actor for twelve years. I left the theatre in 1987 to make space for my writing. Since then, I’ve had seven poetry collections published. My fiction also appears in a number of anthologies and fiction magazines. I’ve worked as a writer in residence in a prison and large city hospitals and I run poetry and storytelling workshops in care homes, schools and community hospitals. I also enjoy working with other artists and across different cultures.
You can see some of the work I do if you click on my blog and my other website.
If you want to know more, here’s my podcast interview with Simon Smith, who is also a Humanists UK celebrant.
Pat Winslow
Where I work
I work mainly in Oxfordshire and surrounding counties, but have also been happy to work much further afield when requested.
Fees from...
£290
How to contact me
Phone
Website
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.
