Each of us develops a different set of beliefs about death but when someone close to us dies we then share the same feelings of sadness and loss. We share the same need for reassurance, for company and for comfort. The purpose of a humanist funeral ceremony is to go some way towards meeting those needs.

It does so by recognising the value of a person’s life and by celebrating their personality and achievements. It also offers us the opportunity to reflect on how we will remember that person  in the future.

People often ask what is the difference between a religious funeral and a humanist funeral? My answer is that  the main difference is that humanist funerals tend to be more personal and unique in their content. Their purpose is to reflect as fully as possible  the personality of the person who has died  in a manner that is meaningful to the bereaved family and friends.

But what about hymns and prayers? Contrary to what some people might say, humanist ceremonies often include a hymn or a prayer. This is usually when a hymn is important for it’s wider context or a prayer, when read by a family member can bring great comfort for historical family reasons. For example, Guide me o thou Great Redeemer is a popular hymn in Wales because it has such strong connections with rugby.

The video below also helps give a broad outline of what is unique and special about humanist funerals.

If you decide to have a humanist funeral I will work with you and your chosen Funeral Director to lead a ceremony that  honours the deceased and also provides comfort for the bereaved.

A typical Order of Ceremony might include:

• Entry music
• Words of welcome
• Thoughts of life and death
• Tribute (a celebration of the life of the deceased to include other speakers if you wish)
• A Time for Reflection
• Committal (closing of curtains or the coffin may remain in view if you wish)
• Closing words of comfort
• Exit music

When beginning to prepare a ceremony, I will meet with you to find out what sort of service is fitting for the person who has died and how you wish to say their farewells. At our meeting I try to learn as much as I can about the person who has died so that I can write the tribute part of the ceremony. I always give the you opportunity to comment on my draft script. As a result they can have confidence that the script will be accurate in terms of details and will provide the type of ceremony they would like.

Wherever possible I like to include readings or memories from friends or family. I can also offer suggestions for readings and music. If you wish to speak at the funeral I will fully support you in order to make this as comfortable an experience as possible

You will probably have a number of questions about a humanist funeral. Many of the answers can be  found by clicking here or alternatively, please get in touch for a chat.