Funeral Services

As a funeral celebrant it’s my job to create and conduct meaningful funeral services. I meet with those planning the funeral to hear all about the person’s life and understand your wishes for the day. I then put together a unique and personalised ceremony script. It is a great source of comfort for families to have someone who has taken the time to get to know them lead the service on the day.

Funeral services I offer

What kind of services am I able to lead? The answer simply is – almost any. The more appropriate question might be where can I lead a service?

Apart from some churches where you require to be ordained to take services I can take them anywhere. Traditionally, funerals have taken place in churches, cemetery chapels, crematorium chapels or at the graveside, and this is still where the majority take place. I am able to fulfil the role of celebrant in each of these places.

However, funerals are changing, and there is an increasing level of awareness of the choices available. One example of this is the rise in funerals that take place at woodland burial sites. Some of these have their own chapels or allow services to take place at the graveside or either side of a service elsewhere.

As the type of service seems to be changing quite drastically these days, so does the idea of where you can hold a service. I have been involved in services in people’s homes, village halls and even at sea, but legally they can take place wherever is special or convenient for you, so long as the owner of that property or land is in agreement.

Therefore, if you are a keen golfer, is there a possibility that you could have your funeral service in your local golf club where you were an active member? Or the local pub where you were a regular? If not a full service with the coffin present, why not have a memorial service there?

I have always said that I would like mine to be in the marquee which stands on my friend’s meadow (I’m sure he thinks I’m joking, but I’m not!). We were the first to have a wedding reception there, so why not a funeral?

Can the committal be separate to the service?

Yes it can. You can choose to have just one service where we hold the ceremony and the committal (the act of burial or cremation) at the same time. Or alternatively you can hold a memorial / celebration of life service following a committal, either on the same day or a determined time afterwards.

Many people prefer the committal to be a private occasion, then to hold a more public celebration at a different time. I am able to help with either of these ideas, often on the same day.

The other form of committal is often when you have decided on the final resting place for a person’s ashes. This could be a burial in a churchyard or cemetery or even on private land, at sea, etc. How about making that time special by having someone present to guide that occasion?

Equipment I provide

I have got the equipment to take services where you want them and to add music to them. For that village hall or room that is not set up for such a thing, I have a lectern with its own amp and microphone that I can play music through. I also have my own projector and screen for images, videos, etc.

For gravesides I have a Bluetooth speaker, meaning we can have good quality sound outdoors. I have also purchased a 6x3m gazebo which means we can hold services in the open air, whatever the weather.

I can also record the service on my voice recorder, which can then be downloaded and sent after the service to anyone.

Although most funeral directors will offer to produce service sheets for you, if there is not one involved I am able to provide these also.

Can I pre-plan my funeral?

Absolutely. Some people want to start planning their own service in advance so that they can decide now what will happen at their own funeral. Funeral directors can advise you on pre-payment plans, but if you would like someone to sit with you and discuss what you would like, the options available, and to go through some ideas, please feel free to contact me.

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