Hello. I’m a humanist celebrant, creating personal, authentic and meaningful non-religious funerals and memorials, which celebrate the life of the person who has died, and capture their uniqueness and individuality. Each ceremony is tailor-made for them. Working closely with their closest family and friends, I can suggest readings, poetry, music and other elements to make the ceremony true and fitting for your loved one, and feel inclusive for everyone present.

I understand that many families comprise people with differing belief systems and customs.  Although I won’t personally lead an act of worship, I recognise that a religious poem or hymn can sometimes be important for some family members, and I can find a way to incorporate this in the ceremony, for someone else to deliver on the day.

If the person who died wanted a non-religious funeral, we can always find a solution.

Funeral ceremonies during the COVID-19 pandemic

We are living in unusual and unprecedented times, and the rules and guidelines for funeral ceremonies are changing from week to week, and vary from one location to another.

The number of family and friends attending the ceremony at the crematorium or cemetery chapel is likely to be very restricted, and you will be asked to sit at distance from one another.

Live streaming and recording of ceremonies

Many crematoria have the capability to film the ceremony, allow it to be viewed, via a digital link, by people anywhere in the world, unable to attend in person. This can also be recorded, allowing it to be watched at a later date for those who cannot view it live.

Virtual ceremonies

In some locations, funeral ceremonies are not being permitted at all, and the cremation or burial of the person who has died will be unattended (called a Direct Cremation or Direct Burial).

For many families, this will be a very difficult and distressing experience on top of what is already an extremely painful time. Not being able to say goodbye collectively to someone you love may be a hard thing to accept.

As your celebrant, I’m not able to change this situation – but I can help you find a way to remember your loved one in a ceremony that is personal and unique to them, delivered in a totally different way.

Modern technology means that we can gather together at the same time, virtually, even though we are in separate places, using Zoom or Google Meet, on our laptops, phones or tablets – up to 100 video links can be included. I can lead a ceremony with a script that we have collaborated on, to ensure that it captures exactly what you want it to. We can include readings and poems, read by family members and friends, and songs and musical elements.  The ceremony can be recorded, to be share with anyone who is unable to join the online meeting.

Individual rituals, shared collectively

Even if you are not able to gather everyone together on the day of the cremation, there are some symbolic gestures in memory of your loved one, which you could ask everyone to participate in. Ideas include:

• Lighting a candle in their memory, at a particular time
• Compiling a playlist of their favourite songs on Spotify, or a similar platform, to share with everyone. You could all listen at the same time
• Asking people to plant seeds or bulbs in their gardens, on a particular day, to remember them in a future season – maybe to coincide with a birthday or other special occasion

Memorials, Celebrations of Life, Remembrance Ceremonies – at a later date

At some point in the future, when it is safe for us all to gather together again, we’ll be able to hold memorials and celebration of life ceremonies for all those we have lost during this period.

These can be held in all manner of indoor venues – hotels, town halls, pubs, community centres, school halls, theatres – or outdoor locations (as long as you have permission to do so!) – in gardens, on a hill top, a woodland or a beach – or even at your own home.

With fewer time restrictions, the ceremony can include many different participants, readings and musical elements. And, in a less formal environment, we can also include a ritual or a symbolic gesture, to include everyone present. The ceremony could incorporate also the scattering of ashes. 

Do contact me on 07710 489514 if you’d like to discuss a ceremony for your loved one, or have ideas of how you would like to celebrate their life.