There are many different types of funeral services you can choose when you’re saying goodbye to a loved one. Depending on the type of funeral service, there are also several options on who officiates the ceremony.
When it comes to planning the service part of a funeral or memorial event for a loved one, the responsibility and process can feel rather daunting, especially if you’re grieving at the same time. Most people will welcome support and expert assistance from an experienced funeral officiant or celebrant.
Who can officiate at a funeral?
Where you plan to hold the funeral or memorial event will determine who can officiate.
Funerals held in churches or other places of worship will usually require a recognised faith leader to officiate, e.g. a priest, vicar or rabbi. There may also be strict rules about where ordained ministers can conduct services outside the place of worship. For example, at this time, Church of England clergy can only conduct funerals within an Anglican church, at a crematorium or at a burial ground.
A civil celebrant or humanist is not allowed to lead a service in a place of worship.
For civil, secular or non-religious funerals there are no set rules about who can officiate a funeral. It can be a civil celebrant, humanist celebrant, a funeral director, a close friend, or a family member of the deceased.
However, because the officiant has such a crucial role to play within the funeral, many families will opt for a trained and experienced person to help them plan the ceremony, gather the information, suggest other content, and then officiate on the day.
What is a funeral celebrant?
Anyone can decide to offer their services as a funeral celebrant, however, those who are serious about this vocation will complete a recognised training course and be awarded a recognised qualification.
The celebrant has several roles to perform. As well as helping to organise and conduct the funeral service, they offer support to the bereaved family.
A good celebrant will help you create a service with the tone and content that reflects how you want to honour the person who has died. This could mean being heavily involved in gathering information from multiple family members and friends to craft the eulogy, or at the other extreme, simply delivering the content that you have chosen and written.
A funeral celebrant will be able to take charge of the proceedings, adopt the leading speaking role on behalf of the family, or step in when a speaker becomes overwhelmed.
Types of funeral celebrants
There are two types of professional funeral celebrants. Understanding the difference will help you decide which is best for your loved one’s funeral.
Humanist celebrant
A humanist funeral celebrant will lead a non-religious, non-spiritual, or humanist funeral service. Typically, humanists do not believe in God or an afterlife. However, you do not have to be a humanist to have a service officiated by a humanist celebrant.
A central part of a humanist service is the tribute section. This is to make the ceremony a positive reflection of the departed.
A humanist celebrant works closely with the deceased family to create a personal and unique service. It may include readings, poems, and music that reflect your loved one’s life. Prayers or hymns will not play a part in the service.
Civil celebrant
A civil funeral celebrant also tailors the funeral service to the wishes of the deceased and their family. But in this case, they can include some religious content such as common prayers or hymns if desired.
A funeral led by a civil celebrant can be either a celebration of life or an occasion for mourning and sadness, or a blend of the two. The focus is on what the deceased’s family wants from the service.
Even when a family doesn’t consider themselves religious, familiar funeral prayers, hymns, and religious readings can bring comfort. While a civil celebrant is able to incorporate such elements they should be prepared to suggest a religious officiant if this is a better match for the spiritual needs of the family.
What makes a good funeral celebrant?
Several organisations provide training and qualifications to funeral celebrants. Some of the better-known organisations include:
- The British Humanist Association
- Fellowship of Professional Celebrants
- Green Fuse
- Interfaith Foundation
- Institute of Civil Funerals
The mark of a good celebrant, however, is not just their qualifications. They should be willing to work closely with you, and follow your instructions, but at the same time bring their ideas so they can create the right funeral for you and your loved one. Three essential qualities to look for include being a good listener, a good writer, and a good performer.
Elements of a funeral celebrant script
There is no right way to structure a funeral ceremony, but a celebrant will try to find out as much as possible about the deceased. They’ll talk with you about what they were like, and whether there’s anything, in particular, you want them to include in their funeral celebrant speeches and how they can make the ceremony as personal as possible.
A typical celebrant funeral will include the following:
- Opening words: Everyone is thanked for coming
- Introduction: Includes an explanation of what is going to happen and why
- Thoughts on life and death
- Life story: Tell the story and celebrate the life of the deceased
- Tributes: These can be from friends, family members, or colleagues
- Committal: This is the part of the ceremony when everyone says goodbye to the body of the deceased
- Closing words: The final words round off the ceremony and close on a more hopeful note. People are given a few minutes to collect themselves before they leave.
Funeral celebrant fees in the UK
The average cost of a civil celebrant is between £200 and £300. The fees for a humanist celebrant range from £200 to £350.
Funeral celebrant fees vary depending on the kind of ceremony you’re having, the time commitment of the celebrant, and how far they have to travel.
How to find a funeral celebrant
Your local funeral director is often a good place to start when you’re looking for a funeral celebrant. They will have experience with some independent funeral celebrants and have gathered feedback.
It’s always helpful to review any testimonials that the celebrant can provide, as these are a good reflection of other people’s experiences.
Do you need a celebrant for a funeral?
Anyone can lead a funeral service if they wish. That includes friends and family members. You don’t need any official training, and leading the funeral service of a loved one can be a very meaningful thing to do.
Reasons to choose a funeral celebrant
There are several reasons why you might choose a funeral celebrant:
- Experience in crafting and running a funeral service
- Can help you put your feelings into appropriate words
- Access to suitable material
- Won’t be overwhelmed by personal grief on the day
- Can keep the event on track and on time
Reasons to conduct the funeral yourself
A family-led ceremony can offer a:
- More meaningful and satisfying ceremony
- Sense of achievement for those who take part
- Sense of having given a final gift to the deceased
- More intimate and personal occasion
- Greater connection and sense of closure
Planning a funeral without a funeral celebrant
A simple, unattended cremation is also known as a direct cremation, and Pure Cremation specialises in this ultra-simple send-off. We offer an affordable alternative to the traditional funeral that allows families to say goodbye in a more meaningful and personal way.
Separating the cremation from the memorial service gives you more time to plan the perfect farewell, and the freedom to hold this when your grief is less raw. Holding a farewell event weeks or months after the death will make it easier for family members to take part fully.
Need some more information on funeral planning? Read our short guide on arranging a funeral for a loved one.