A celebrant is a person who presides over various ceremonies, such as funerals. They usually have no open affiliation with any particular religion or faith and tend to focus on the life, family and friends of the deceased throughout the service.
Do we have to use a celebrant?
The choice of who presides over the official proceedings of a burial ceremony is a completely personal one. The ceremony can be led by a chosen representative of any religious faith, family member or friend.
We have found that for those wishing for a non-religion led ceremony, the help of a celebrant eases the burden before, during and after the funeral. We have been fortunate enough to work with some fantastic celebrants, each bringing their own personality and caring approach. Having to find a suitable celebrant at the time of bereavement can add un-necessary stress and worry. Below are a few recommendations to try and help with the process.
Sarah Scarsbrook – Celebrant
It’s hard to say exactly what my role as a celebrant is. Each funeral service and each family are different. Each family has individual thoughts and ideas for how they want to remember and celebrate the life of their loved one. I feel that a memorial service should be a time to reflect on the happy/funny memories. The stories that are told, should reflect the families loved one and their personality
There will always be tears, because of the loss that is deeply felt but I feel, there should be smiles and laughter too. I’m there to be the voice that the family are unable to be.
My fees are usually in the region of £185
Email: sarah.e.scarsbrook@gmail.com
Mobile: 07928 480649
Katy Vigurs – Humanists UK Funeral Celebrant
A funeral can support family and friends to start tending to the complex set of emotions that are experienced when someone dies. No matter what the circumstances, the death of a friend or family member can be devastating and disorientating, and arranging a funeral can be a deeply difficult and painful time. However, it can also be a time to reflect, remember, give thanks and prepare to say a formal goodbye to the person who has died. As a celebrant, I specialise in working with you to create a bespoke non-religious funeral ceremony.
I take pride in providing a warm, sensitive and highly personalised service. I will visit you and spend time listening to your memories and talking with you about the life of the person who has died, before putting together a funeral ceremony based on both your and their needs and wishes. I will work closely with you to design a funeral that is meaningful and that authentically reflects the life and values of the person who has died.
We will design a ceremony that both honours your loved one and celebrates their life. People I’ve worked with describe me as calm, reassuring, thoughtful and articulate. I’ve been told that I listen with warmth and compassion and that I write and tell a great life story. If you’d like to talk through ideas for a funeral ceremony, please get in touch and I’ll be happy to help.
We’ll start with an informal conversation to check that I’m the right celebrant for you. I’m part of a large network of Humanists UK funeral celebrants, so I can always recommend other celebrants if needed. It’s important that you appoint a celebrant who suits your needs.
My fees are usually in the region of £220-250.
Email: katy.vigurs@humanistceremonies.org.uk
Mobile: 07905 403729