A HUMANIST FUNERAL CEREMONY
The death of someone we love is one of the hardest things we ever have to cope with. It is natural to mourn the death of someone close. In a humanist funeral there is ample opportunity not just to say goodbye but to remember that person and to celebrate the richness of their life.
A humanist funeral ceremony is non religious and will usually include personal tributes, favourite poems or readings and music.
Thank you so much for a wonderful Celebration. I’m sure Mum would have approved.
— Felicity
Thank you for all you have done in making G’s funeral a fitting one. It certainly epitomised the person he was.
— Jenny
Thank you for the wonderful ceremony. Afterwards, everybody said it was the best funeral they had been to, and there was so much love in the room! In the evening I thought that if it was my funeral, I would have been really pleased, so I think we could do no more. We definitely gave him a good send off.
— Jane
Thank you for all your hard work preparing and delivering mum’s funeral. It was such a difficult time, and I was really dreading the whole thing. But in fact I was overwhelmed by how beautifully presented the service was, and what a wonderful opportunity it was to really celebrate mum’s life. Your empathy and sensitivity really made the whole experience bearable.
— Julia
CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE AND MEMORIAL CEREMONIES
After a formal funeral families can choose a larger memorial celebration in a more relaxed venue such as a hotel or hall, or outside and may be somewhere the deceased person knew well, like the local restaurant or pub. This can include people who were unable to attend the funeral, and people who may need time to compose their tributes and gather together their memories of the person.
I am based in Cheltenham - in the Cotswolds-and conduct humanist ceremonies in and around Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Bristol. I am happy to travel further afield and have conducted humanist ceremonies in Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, North Somerset and Bath.
My fees start at £240 for a funeral ceremony or celebration of life in Gloucestershire, a little more to cover additional travel costs in Worcestershire or Bristol.
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 funerals
Humanist funerals, memorials and ash ceremonies are a fitting way to honour a unique life with warmth, sensitivity and meaning, but without reference to religion or an afterlife. They put the story of the person who has died at the heart of the ceremony, paying tribute to them and the legacy they leave, and provide an opportunity to bring people together, not just to share sadness but to celebrate a life lived.
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Humanist Ceremonies
Humanists UK
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