Frequently Asked Questions

How is a Civil Funeral different to others?

A civil funeral is driven by the beliefs of the deceased and their family rather than any set ideology or religion and centres on the deceased in order to create a fitting celebration of life. Civil ceremonies are becoming increasing popular for those who wish to steer away from a religious service, but who may still wish to include a small element of religion. These will usually take place at a crematorium or cemetery, although there is no restrictions on where it can take place meaning that civil funerals are now happening at a variety of locations, both indoors and out. Civil funerals with some religion may include hymns and prayers, however they will often include poems, readings and other music. They can of course be completely non-religious ceremonies. The advantage of a civil funeral over either a religious or humanist service is that it can be very flexible in its content, which in turn ensures the wishes of all concerned are honoured.

What is the role of a Civil Funeral Celebrant?

The role of a Civil Funeral Celebrant is to plan and deliver a bespoke service which will reflect the life and achievements of the deceased, acknowledging their beliefs and values, together with those of the next of kin and other immediate family members.

Much of the planning for the service will be done in conjunction with the family with things to be discussed including choices of music, hymns, readings, poetry and anything else that the family may wish to include. They may wish to prepare and deliver their own tribute or they may ask the celebrant to deliver a eulogy on their behalf. Everything is centred around providing a ceremony that is as personal as possible, reflecting the uniqueness of the individual. 

On the day of the funeral the celebrant will conduct the ceremony in much the same way as a religious minister would. This would involve delivering readings, tributes and the words of committal, introducing any music or hymns as well as inviting up any family members or friends who may wish to speak. At the end of the ceremony the Celebrant would be on hand to offer any help as required.

I’ve been to the Funeral Directors to arrange the funeral - when do I see you?

Unless you have approached me directly to look after the funeral, I would normally get a call from the Funeral Director asking me to look after your ceremony. I will then contact you as soon as possible to arrange a suitable date and time to meet up. This meeting would usually take place at your home, however if this is not convenient then we can arrange to meet elsewhere, such as at the Funeral Directors.

What do we discuss at the family meeting and do I need to do anything prior to your visit?

We will talk about the content of the service. This would include any poems, readings, prayers, music or hymns etc. that you may wish to include, so having some ideas in mind beforehand would be helpful. There are some suggestions for ideas on this website.

We will also talk about your loved one, as I will need to get to know them in order to be able to deliver a fitting ceremony. You may find it helpful to chat together as a family and make a note of any significant dates, names of family members, stories from childhood, jobs, marriages or significant relationships, milestones, achievements, and any other notable events or stories you may wish to have included in the eulogy. Looking through some old photos may help to jog your memory. Think of some words or ways in which to best describe your loved one and how they might wish to be remembered. 

If we have any further questions how can we contact you?

I can be contacted by email here or by calling 07921 363310.

My normal working hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. If I am unable to answer at any time then please leave me a voicemail message, or email me. I regularly check my emails and messages and will get back to you as soon as possible.