Funerals

Funerals form a large part of the work that we do at The Berkshire Celebrants.

We help you plan a beautiful celebration of the life of your loved one to suit your needs.

We cover all aspects of funerals from full humanist ceremonies to ceremonies with religious content.

Cremations, burials, interment of ashes ceremonies and memorial services are all part of the service that we offer.

Please contact us for more details.

More Information

What is a funeral celebrant?

If you who don’t have a specific religious following, a celebrant will take the place of a member of the clergy or minister, to compose and conduct a funeral – acting as a conduit through whom to express your views and beliefs. Religious ceremonies follow a traditional pattern, but an independent funeral celebrant can be very flexible, understanding and supportive as the family moves through the process of making preparations for the funeral. He or she will work closely with them to understand the life and relationships of the person who had died and to explore and shape the type of ceremony the family envisage – holding the focus of that ceremony on the unique life of that person.

A skilled funeral celebrant will be able to structure a ceremony that provides a safe environment in which mourners can mourn, at the same time directing the ceremony, read poems, deliver an account of the person and lend support to anyone who wishes to participate. At a time when the family is in a state of despair, the celebrant offers the security and inspiration of beautiful, heartfelt words – as well as hope where none seem to exist.  

An independent celebrant will make sure the funeral is just right for the person who has died – and the circumstances. With no dogma or his or her own, he or she will take time and care to listen to how you want to say goodbye. Whether spiritual, religious, agnostic or secular, contemporary or traditional, cremation or burial, they will make sure the ceremony will be individual, essentially for that one special person – a funeral with heart and soul.

Because everyone is different – and because a fundamental change is happening. More and more people are demanding highly individual ceremonies that weave together the colourful strands of a singular life. Most people are neither formally religious nor atheist – they value individualism and spiritual values. They want a ceremony that reflects their life, character and beliefs, on their terms, with their creed, favourite words and music, when and where they want it – led, or perhaps facilitated by, an individual celebrant.

Why use an independent celebrant?

Because everyone is different – and because a fundamental change is happening. More and more people are demanding highly individual ceremonies that weave together the colourful strands of a singular life. Most people are neither formally religious nor atheist – they value individualism and spiritual values. They want a ceremony that reflects their life, character and beliefs, on their terms, with their creed, favourite words and music, when and where they want it – led, or perhaps facilitated by, an individual celebrant.