Humanist funeral and memorial ceremonies

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On 23 March 2020, the UK Government introduced new measures relating to social gathering with the aim of slowing down the spread of COVID-19 in the UK.

In his address to the nation, the Prime Minister said, ‘We’ll stop all social events, including weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies, but excluding funerals.’

From 24 March 2020, only immediate close family are advised to attend funerals, and family members are asked to respect social distancing guidelines at the crematorium. Celebrants will encourage mourners not to hug, kiss, or shake hands, and instead will ask them to show compassion by other methods such as the right hand over the heart or a nod of the head. Song sheets are advised against as are Orders of Service.

In light of the new measures and restrictions, Humanist Ceremonies celebrants are offering the following options:

A humanist ceremony at a crematorium for immediate family members or closest friends (with the option to live-stream or record the ceremony where possible)
In the case of a direct cremation or burial where no mourners are present, families can work with our celebrants to create a moment of meaning at the time of Committal
Assistance with planning a memorial service to be held at a later date
An online memorial ceremony that people can join in real time.

Humanist funeral and memorial ceremonies

Humanist funerals and memorials are non-religious ceremonies that support family and friends to mourn and to celebrate the person who has died. They focus on the life they led, the relationships they forged, and the legacy they left. They are based on the humanist perspective that every life is individual and valuable.

Ceremonies are conducted by humanist celebrants and are both a celebration of a life and a dignified, personal farewell. They’re the perfect option for families who want a sincere, personal reflection on the life of their loved one. This can be especially important if the person who died wasn’t particularly religious, meaning a religious funeral could feel inauthentic and not true to who they were in life.

Humanist funerals and memorial services offer a personal and fitting way to support families in saying goodbye to those who have lived without religion. Many thousands are conducted by our celebrants each year.

Arranging a funeral

While a funeral director is the professional most likely to deal with the practical arrangements of a funeral, what type of ceremony you choose is entirely up to you.

Working with a celebrant

Humanists UK funeral celebrants are sensitive people, empathetic to the experience of bereavement, and focused on providing a funeral ceremony that will be most fitting for the circumstances. They are familiar with cremation and burial procedures and will guide you through the whole process of arranging a funeral ceremony.

Funeral celebrants:

Work with the family or friends most closely connected with the person who has died to learn more about that person and ensure that the funeral justly captures their life and personality. If this can’t be done in person, it can be done via a telephone or video call
Write a unique ceremony that’s absolutely fitting for the person who has died
Advise on practical matters, such as the amount of time available for the ceremony at the crematorium, or other ways of holding a ceremony if there can be no attendance at the crematorium
Listen to your ideas on music, readings, or symbolic gestures and can make suggestions that they feel may work for your family within any circumstances
Talk to you about how to personalise the ceremony, sharing their ideas and drawing on their experience and expertise
Liaise with those involved in the ceremony, for example, anyone who will be reading a tribute, poem, or piece of prose, to ensure all goes smoothly. Act as a calm presence on the day, leading the ceremony with warmth and dignity.
Send you a presentation copy of the final script.

What people say about humanist ceremonies

‘You struck exactly the right tone and balance. Many people commented to me that they could not believe that you had never met her! People were also very interested to hear details of her life. For most it was the first time they had attended a humanist service of any description and I only received positive comments. They appreciated the honesty of the service and the fact that it was all about my mother with no other influences.’

‘Whilst still sad, people thought it was a beautiful and uplifting funeral and many commented that it was the most personal funeral they’d ever been to.’

Further information

We are proud to be associated with:

Download our funerals leaflet or, for more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions page.

You can also see a sample structure of a funeral ceremony, or look for a funeral celebrant in your area.

If you are planning your own funeral, you can find some helpful resources here.

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