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Writer's pictureCatherine Scutt

Seven celebrant questions answered


In the not-so-distant past, most funerals were conducted by a religious leader, such as a vicar in a church, an Imam in a mosque, a minister in a chapel or a rabbi in a synagogue. Yet, times have changed, and it is now likely that the next funeral you attend will be led by a celebrant and take place in a crematorium, a natural burial ground, or even in a football stadium.


The role of the celebrant is becoming more well-known but, unless you have planned or attended a celebrant-led ceremony, you may not know much about who they are, what they do or where to find them.


To find out more about the role of a celebrant, read the answers to these seven celebrant questions.


What is a celebrant?


A celebrant is a non-religious ceremony leader. In England, a funeral celebrant leads funeral, memorial and interment of ashes ceremonies.


Is a celebrant the same as a vicar?


A celebrant writes and leads the whole ceremony in a similar way to a vicar, but the celebrant’s ceremony will not be based on religious doctrine and won’t be held in a place of worship. A celebrant-led ceremony is different because the person who has died is at its centre. Even though these ceremonies are generally non-religious, some celebrants, including me, are happy to add religious elements, like the Lord’s Prayer or a favourite Bible reading. However, some, notably humanist celebrants, will not include any religious elements at all.


Can I choose a celebrant to lead a ceremony?


Yes, you can. Your funeral director is likely to recommend a celebrant to you or provide a list of celebrants they work with, but you are not obliged to accept their services. Some people will accept the choice the funeral director makes, possibly because they don’t know they have a choice, or they are grateful that one of the many decisions they need to make has been taken off their hands. However, it is important to remember that you are in control so you may choose to make contact with a number of different celebrants and make an informed decision about which one is right for you.


How do I find a celebrant?


As well as accepting a recommendation from a funeral director, many celebrants have their own websites and advertise on social media platforms. It’s also worth asking colleagues, friends or family if they can recommend a celebrant. Have they worked with a celebrant to create a loved one’s ceremony? Or have they attended a well-presented and uplifting funeral ceremony recently? Word of mouth is powerful and will give you an idea of the celebrant’s skills, style and personality before you make contact.


What should I expect a celebrant to do?


After making initial contact, a celebrant will arrange a 2+ hour-long meeting with you at a venue of your choice, which could be your home, a local café or even a room in the funeral home.


At the meeting, the celebrant may request to see some photographs of your loved one and will ask a variety of questions to find out about their life. They will write down, and sometimes make an audio recording, of the conversation which will provide the information for the ceremony. The celebrant will also ask about the other elements you want to incorporate into the ceremony, including music and readings, and will provide guidance to help you choose.


After the meeting, the celebrant will craft the whole ceremony, including a detailed life story called a eulogy. Before the funeral ceremony, you should receive a copy of the eulogy, or sometimes the whole ceremony, so that you can check that the details are correct, and you are happy with the content. The celebrant will make any changes you suggest to ensure the ceremony fulfils your wishes.


What can I do to help the celebrant prepare for the ceremony?


A skilled celebrant will be able to gather information, write a funeral ceremony and deliver it without family members having to do a lot of the work themselves. However, completing the checklist below as you prepare for your loved one’s funeral will provide the celebrant with important information which will help the planning process to go smoothly and ensure the ceremony goes well.


  1. Choose three pieces of music: an entry piece, a reflection piece and an exit piece.

  2. Choose two readings and decide who will read them.

  3. Think about objects or items to display on or near the coffin that represent the person, their life or their hobbies.

  4. Decide if you want to include a meaningful activity such as singing a song together, handing out packets of wildflower seeds, asking everyone to write down a personal memory or watching a montage of photographs together.

  5. Create a list of requests. For example, the name of the charity that will benefit from funeral donations or the colour of clothes you would like people to wear.

  6. Decide who you would like to thank during the ceremony and write the wording you would like the celebrant to say. This could include family members, friends, care workers or people who helped your loved one near the end of their life.


What will the celebrant do on the day of the funeral?


Wherever the funeral is held, the celebrant will arrive at the venue in plenty of time and ensure that all elements of the ceremony, including the music, images, objects and activities are organised. They will greet the immediate family, even if it is just a nod or a smile, and then lead the coffin inside or to the place of burial. The celebrant will lead the whole ceremony, including stopping and starting the music and supporting readers, if needed. At the end of the ceremony, the celebrant will wish the mourners a safe journey home and then say goodbye as they leave. After the ceremony, the celebrant may present you with a presentation copy of the ceremony script as a reminder of the words and music that have been shared.


And there you have it, seven celebrant questions answered. I hope you have found them helpful and they have provided an insight into the role of a celebrant, especially if you are just starting the journey of planning a personal and meaningful celebrant-led ceremony for your loved one.

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