Humanist Ceremonies

Imagine a ceremony that marks a major life event in a way that is personal, sincere, and honest. Perhaps welcoming a much-loved baby to the world with a bespoke naming ceremony. Or celebrating a couple’s marriage in a way that is warm and genuine, that’s about the two of them and their relationship, and is full of laughter – and perhaps a few tears too. Or a funeral or memorial ceremony that focuses on the person who had died and the life they led – not on the idea of an afterlife – and provides a dignified and sincere way of saying goodbye. Our celebrants create, write, and conduct a range of ceremonies to mark the big moments in life, mostly (but not exclusively) naming ceremonies, weddings, and funerals. What we do isn’t new: we’re proud of our history and know that Humanists UK members were conducting humanist funerals as long ago as 1896. Humanist ceremonies are not unusual either – we take many thousands each year, but perhaps this isn’t surprising since half of Britain’s population say they are not religious, and indeed only a third of marriages in England are held in a church, for example. Providing high-quality, personal, non-religious ceremonies is something we take very seriously. Our celebrants are thoroughly trained and quality-assured. They are passionate about their work and providing people with an appropriate way to mark the most important moments in their lives. Humanist Ceremonies is the growing network of over 500 celebrants qualified and accredited by Humanists UK. We work across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. (In Scotland celebrants are trained by Humanist Society Scotland.) From here you can find out what a humanist ceremony is, or read more about our three main types of ceremony: namings, weddings and funerals. You can also find out more about celebrants – the people who write and conduct our ceremonies – and see who is available in your area.