Funerals Explained: Humanist Service

In our short series, Funerals Explained we look at Humanist Services. A humanist funeral service is a form of ceremony that is non-religious. For many, it makes the perfect choice over the more traditional church-based services. The format is quite informal. If the deceased had no particular faith, then this is something they might have requested. So let’s have a look at the sort of things that you might experience, or request if you are the family organising a humanist service.

Who Leads a Humanist Funeral?

The correct term for the person leading the service is the celebrant. Celebrants have had training, and it is something anyone can apply to do. They are not ordained in any way but have spent time learning how to assist the family. Their role is to create a service that celebrates the life of the person who died in a dignified manner. A celebrant can work in a crematorium chapel or any location that is not deemed to be a religious building.

What Can I Expect?

Generally, the funeral services will be held in the crematorium, but there are also green space burial areas popping up across the country. These premises will have to follow burial rules and regulations. They are an alternative to a cemetery and often involved the grave being marked only with a new tree planted as a marker.

Wherever the service takes place the celebrant will have put together an order of service with the family. You might find that music is played, and readings are given. A member of the family or close friends might get up to speak about the person. In a crematorium, the timing is closely monitored. The skill of the celebrant is helping the family create the most fitting farewell in the time allotted.

A celebrant is the most common alternative to having an ordained member of a faith lead the service. This does not mean that the deceased had to have declared a humanist belief. It is an alternative available to anyone who feels a faith-based service is not for them.

Non-Religious Funerals

A Humanist service is a relaxed way to structure a funeral but any readings or music should be non-religious. A humanist service allows the gathered friends and family to reflect on the life of the person rather than be an act of worship.

When the time comes, the celebrant will make a committal type speech. Again this can be quite traditional or something that the family and celebrant have worked on together beforehand. It would be normal for the celebrant to visit the family at home before the funeral to make the plans and arrangements. The celebrant will then work with the funeral directors to print an order of service. This is another part of the service that friends and family appreciate. Often people like to take these away at the end of the funeral service, in a final memorial.

Remember, the celebrant is there to make sure you are able to offer the final farewell you feel most appropriate. Do not be afraid to put your ideas forward, there is no right or wrong.

Funeral Order of Service

As we mentioned earlier, some families like to have a printed funeral order of service. Fitting Farewell have created thousands of funeral order of service with many different themes. We work directly with families and also for funeral directors. We have the expertise and skills to create the funeral order of service you want for your loved one. We can create a bespoke design, print and deliver within 3 working days. You can work directly with a designer, not from online templates, to create something very special.

Call us on 0800 612 6484, which is free from a landline, or email us via our contact form.