For those who do not want a religious service.
We work with two different funeral celebrants
Nick Laurie and Paul Bailes.
There is also a female celebrant that we often use. Details for her can be obtained from us.
They are each individual in their own way and extreamly helpful and comforting at your time of need.
Please read through their blurbs to help you decide who you would like to take your service.
Nick Laurie FPC
Independent Celebrant
As a truly independent, secular celebrant my commitment in any kind of ceremony - whether it be funeral, a wedding or anything else - is towards helping my clients to be clear about what they want and then making sure that they get it.
Once we are in touch with each other I will arrange to visit you and we will spend as much time as necessary together in order to get a clear idea of what kind of ceremony you want. I will help you work out what you wish to include in the way of speakers, readings, music and anything else. I will then write a unique ceremony for you. A further visit or maybe telephone or email contact will polish the first draft into its final form.
We will then create and conduct the ceremony together at the crematorium, graveside or indeed at any venue that you choose. Should you wish I will lead and conduct the entire event, but equally I can simply facilitate the occasion, enabling you and your family to take the leading roles. Again I emphasise, I am here to help you to get what you want on the day.
The chances are that if you have come to me for your funeral service you probably don't want a religious event and you don't want the rigidity of some of the more formal alternatives. Nevertheless I am happy to include conventional items such as a prayer or blessing - usually asking a member of the gathering with religious leanings to take the lead for this.
I recently conducted a funeral in the skittle alley of a pub where the deceased had been captain of the pub's quiz team - I really am open to creating your ceremony in any venue: conventional or individual. Whether you simply want a celebrant or a complete event organiser I am ready, in conjunction with Mark Jales Independent Funeral Directors, to help you achieve it.
Paul Bailes
Independent Funeral Celebrant.
I live in Somerset, and conduct funeral services throughout the South West Area.
You may have come across my name by chance or you may have been given my details from a Funeral Director, I am aware however, that my first contact with you comes at a time that is probably difficult and painful. I hope that together we will be able to create a beautiful, elegant and fitting funeral service for your loved one whom you may have recently lost.
What is a Celebrant Funeral?
People coping with bereavement are not always fully aware of many of the funeral choices available. Often they gratefully accept whatever suggestions are made and do not realise they could have done it differently until afterwards.
Most people are only ever offered a funeral service either conducted by a Religious Minister or the more atheistic outlook offered by a Humanist Officiant.
However in today's modern world, many people are developing their own ideas and philosophies on life and religion, and therefore neither a religious nor atheist funeral particularly reflects their personal beliefs about both life and death.
Many clients start off by saying that the person who died was not religious and did not go to church, and yet many still want an element of spirituality without the restraints of a traditional religious approach. I can of course offer a funeral where by religion is not referred to at all, but on other occasions it may be appropriate to include some religious or spiritual elements such as hymns, blessings or meditations. These individual life centered funeral ceremonies are for those who want something more personal and meaningful than that of a traditional service.
Far from being sombre and sad, the Ceremonies I create are positive and uplifting - because they focus on life and not on death. You will find great comfort in providing a ceremony such as the person who has died would have wanted.
Each ceremony I conduct is individually written from start to finish, honouring the person who has died, in a dignified and fitting tribute, focusing on everything that made them special and unique.
Please ask us for more details if you would like either
Nick or Paul.