What is a Civil Celebrant?
A civil celebrant writes and conducts a funeral service, incorporating those unique stories, songs, and experiences that defined the loved one.
During the event, the celebrant will facilitate and guide the proceedings, make any necessary announcements, as well as leading individuals through any rituals within the ceremony. As necessary, a celebrant will assist any speakers before the event and oversee the ceremony’s design and facilitation.
Most people are aware of the roles of Clergy or Humanist ministers, their related beliefs and the restraints they can impose. The difference with a Civil (Independent) Funeral Celebrant is that they do not belong or adhere to any particular religion or belief and are therefore able to honour your beliefs and those of your loved one.
A civil celebrant can officiate at all types of funerals, including, but not limited to:
• Non-religious funeral services
• Part-religious funeral services
• Spiritual funerals
• New Age/Holistic funerals
• Alternative funerals
• ‘Green’ funerals
Why use a Civil Celebrant?
Individuals who request the services of a Civil Celebrant do so for a variety of reasons:
The family members may practice different religions
Your deceased loved one may not have been religious.
A ‘Celebration of Life’ for your deceased loved one may be the most appropriate way to honour them.
You may want the service held in a specific place that reflects the lifestyle and personality of the person who died. For example, a community hall, a favourite restaurant, the family home, a golf course or some other unique setting.
Your deceased loved one may not have been actively involved in a religious community at the time of his or her death, but they may have requested specific religious scriptures, prayers or hymns to be included in their service.
Those with a life-limiting illness may wish to participate in the planning and design of their own funeral, memorial or celebration of life service.
A civil ceremony provides you with the freedom to make a range of choices about the content and style of the funeral ceremony and a Civil Funeral Celebrant will always conduct the funeral service that YOU want for your loved one.
The Family Meeting
As an Independent Funeral Celebrant, my main focus is to provide the best possible funeral service for the family and friends of the deceased.
I will always endeavour to meet* with the family (and any friends that you wish to involve) to discuss and create the most appropriate kind of funeral service for your loved one. During this meeting my foremost job is to listen carefully to you and the stories you share so that I can come to know the person whose life is being commemorated. I can help choose music and readings for the service and am open to any special request that may honour the deceased.
With your knowledge, I will write and conduct a ceremony that meets your needs and reflects the attributes of your loved one.
It may be helpful to think about the following areas in readiness for our meeting:
• Where the deceased was born and grew up
• Siblings and family members
• Schooldays and childhood stories
• Closest family members and friends
• Special occasions e.g. wedding day
• Career and places of work/Armed Forces etc
• Hobbies, interests and achievements
• Favourite memories
• Musical tastes
• What will the deceased be most remembered for?
• Favourite sayings and stories
• Music, hymns, poems etc for the ceremony
• Will anyone else be speaking or participating in the service?
After the meeting I will begin the process of writing the tribute. This can take many hours as each ceremony is individually composed. If required, and time permits, a copy of the tribute can be sent to you before the funeral takes place.
A copy of the completed tribute will also be presented to the family after the service has taken place.
Together, we will create the tribute your loved one deserves.
* The meeting will usually take place at your home but I am happy to meet at any other location that is convenient to you.
About Me
I am available to write and conduct funeral services throughout Northamptonshire as well as in and around my home town of Hemel Hempstead.
I have completed a Funeral Celebrants’ training course with the Association of Independent Celebrants and have been accepted into membership with that association.
I believe that a funeral should be a true celebration of the life of the individual as well as a time to grieve and say goodbye. I will work closely with you to ensure that you are able to say goodbye to your loved one in a way that you, and they, would have wanted.
If you have any questions you may contact me at Margaret-Rose Funerals (01933) 682850
or email : maggie.brinklow@btinternet.com
