“Thank you so much for making A’s funeral service everything we hoped it would be. You are a credit to your profession. The script was superb and more importantly, everyone who was there agreed that it was “Just A. Just right”.” M.P

 

I came across a discarded funeral script while visiting a 17^th century church. I was there to view an architectural feature, but I couldn’t help noticing the script, text side up, on top of some hymnals. This word-processed and much photocopied sermon was completely generic. The person’s name was hand written, filling in the space left blank, and indicating that the script had been used multiple times.

It left me feeling sad, somewhat indignant, and even more committed to the humanist approach to funerals.

As a humanist celebrant I am committed to crafting a ceremony for you that truly reflects and celebrates the unique personality and life story of your loved one, with a tone that is warm and inclusive. It will be rich with detail, it will value them and their contribution to the world in a way that is fitting and authentic.

They may have left very clear instructions for their funeral or none at all. You may have many ideas about how it should be, or you may feel shocked and lost. Whatever the situation I am confident we can make a memorable farewell to honour their life.

Usually, the first step is to meet and talk about your person. We will talk about their life and their values: what brought them joy; what annoyed them; what made them laugh, and how would they like to be remembered. We will discuss the kind of ceremony you would like, who else might be involved, as well as music, readings, and any other thoughts you may have.

Drawing upon the reminiscences, anecdotes, and other information gathered I will draft a script for the ceremony and share it with you for checking and amendments. It’s very important that you feel a rightness about the contents, and know what to expect.

If you have chosen a funeral director I will liaise with them directly, as well as any family or friends who plan to speak at the ceremony. This should mean fewer emails for you, and it will enable me to ensure that the ceremony runs smoothly.

I will stay in touch in case of any necessary changes and be there before the ceremony begins to check that everything is in place. As well as speaking myself, I will provide support for any family members or friends who are giving tributes or other readings.

After the ceremony, I will provide you with a presentation version of the script that you can keep and share with family and friends who were unable to attend. If you like the idea of the Humanist Funeral Tribute Archive we can also look at an edited version of the life story being posted there. This is a free service for anyone who has booked a funeral or memorial through an accredited Humanists UK celebrant. The archive is a beautiful resource and unique to Humanists UK.

Humanist funerals are inclusive and provide an essential alternative for those who seek a non-religious approach.  To provide families with choice, humanist celebrants tend to charge fees related to the parochial fees set by the Church of England. My charges start at £280 for a 30-minute funeral ceremony, while memorials start at £330. Included in my one-off fee will be the time spent in meetings, writing and editing the script, email communications, delivery of the ceremony on the day. and any follow-up emails, including the presentation copy of the ceremony.  If you have scheduled the funeral through a funeral director, my fee will be included in your invoice from them. There is no fee for funerals of people under the age of 18.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at any time. I would be honoured if you decided you would like to work with me.