Non Religious Funerals

There are more and more people for whom religion is of less important to them, and that a service that is more centralized around ones life, as such a religious service may feel inappropriate. Therefore non religious funerals are now gaining more popularity.

In such cases, we are able to arrange for an officiate from the British Humanist Association, or maybe if preferred and more approptiate, a member of the family or a friend may wish to conduct the ceremony. Humanists do care deeply about moral issues, but from a non-religious point. They believe in the good that is in human beings, and the right of the individuals free choice.

Humanist officiates come from a variety of backgrounds and share an ability to empathise with the experience of the bereavement. They are members of the commuity who are familiar with the procedures of both cremation and burial. Together with you, they will plan a personal and highly dignified tribut, and conduct it on your behalf on the day of the funeral.

Once you have decided to have a non-religious humanist ceremony, your officiate will wish to speak with you and possibly others closely affected by the death. It is helpful for the officiate to get to know as much as possible about the person who has died; for each tribute is highly individual, even if the form of it may seem quite simple.

Members of the family or friends can, if they so wish, also participate with a reading or poem, or with their own tribute. Most crematoriums and cemeteries all offer a 30 minute time allocation between services. Therefore if it is a family member or a family friend giving the funeral tribute, we do ask to prepare their eulogy to fall within the 20 minutes that are allowed in the chapels. Some crematoriums now operate a slightly longer time allowance and some even allow a double time allocation. If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.