Home » Ceremonies » Civil Funerals

What is a civil funeral?

It is now recognized by Funeral Directors, Crematoriums and Cemeteries that many families today want an alternative to a religious or totally non-religious funeral ceremony. As an Independent Funeral Celebrant (or civil minister) I am therefore able to offer you a civil funeral ceremony personally tailor made to your requirements, for the celebration of the life of your loved one.

I understand the sense of loss and great sadness that we face when we lose a loved one. From the first moment of contact I will be with you every step of the way so that I can:

• Meet with you and discuss exactly your wishes for the ceremony.
• Listen as you share with me your memories, enabling me to write a personal tribute
• Allow me to advise on the ceremony format - liaise with your Funeral Director
• Look at hymns, or a special piece of music you would like to be played at the beginning or end of the ceremony.
• Look at perhaps a special tune for a quiet time during the ceremony - A time of reflection for us all.
• Choosing readings or poems to be read during the ceremony. Maybe a family member or friend may like to write something for me to read on their behalf.
• Read a personal tribute to the deceased allowing everyone to say goodbye and all to share in the “Celebration of the Life we have lost”.

Can I arrange a Civil Funeral before my death?

Yes this is possible - I will make arrangements to meet you to discuss the options and prepare a ceremony to meet your requirements. There is a fee payable of £125.00 for this service.

Where Can The Ceremony Be Held?

The ceremony can be held virtually anywhere, except for churches or religious burial grounds. The most usual place is a crematorium, cemetery or woodland burial site, but I am happy to discuss other possible venues with you.

Memorial Services

Sometimes, it is not always possible for everyone to attend the funeral ceremony of a loved one. It may be that you just want a quiet personal ceremony, but feel that a few weeks later, you would like to hold a memorial service for the one you have lost. Perhaps this later date would be more convenient for everyone to attend, enabling a wider circle of friends, family and colleagues to become more involved. It would also give them the opportunity to express their feelings for the deceased in their own words by personal tributes. I can help you organise and create the memorial and lead the ceremony so that it will be a lasting reminder and celebration of the life of the deceased.

You can hold the memorial ceremony at a venue of your choice, either at home, a hotel, function hall or any other premises that you feel would be suitable for the ceremony.

The price of a memorial service is from £160.00 (and the same for the pre written scripts).

Scattering of Ashes

After the funeral, to say the final farewell for your loved one, I can conduct a personalised short formal ceremony for the scattering or interment of ashes. This can be at a venue of your choice, examples being crematoriums, woodland sites, gardens, in a boat on a river or even at sea. (Some sites may be subject to approval). The charge for this service is from £30.00 (plus mileage if outside my district).

The Funeral Director will more often than not add my charge to their account, making the whole process easier and less worrying for you, as everything is paid for together.

To arrange a civil funeral, memorial service or scattering of ashes ceremony please contact me or ask your funeral director to Contact me.