As a humanist celebrant I consider my role to be more a privilege than a job. It is my privilege to learn of a life that has passed, to hear the stories and memories of those with the closest connections; those who are coming to terms with loss and the changes that bereavement inevitably brings. And it is my privilege to lead the celebration for that life.

In preparing and leading a non-religious funeral, my approach is caring and respectful; I feel it is important to create a celebration of honesty and kindness, using words, artefacts and music that are appropriate and personal to those involved. Aside from the legal requirements, a Humanist funeral does not have any particular rules save a sense of meaning and purpose for those that are celebrating.

A desire to include some religious content, such as a short prayer or hymn, may “feel right” but then this would not be a humanist funeral. The funerals I conduct are for those who did not believe in a life after death or hold a faith in any super-natural being. A humanist ceremony works best when those of all faiths or none are able to celebrate life together.

In her writings on Humanism, Maria MacLachlan says;

“To live according to the Golden Rule means trying to empathise with other people, including those who may be very different from us. Empathy is at the root of kindness, compassion, understanding and respect – qualities that we all appreciate being shown, whoever we are, whatever we think and wherever we come from.”

What could be better than that?

James conducting a Service of Remembrance at the Communal Cemetery in Douai, France. March 2016