Civil Funerals
What kind of funeral do you want?
When someone dies, family and close friends often face many decisions about the funeral. Should it be a burial or cremation? What are the legal requirements? Who should conduct the ceremony? Where should it be held? All these questions are important but, at a time when emotional stress is high, it's easy to forget perhaps the most important question of all - what kind of funeral do you really want?
Every family is different, and not everyone wants the same type of funeral. Your choice may be influenced by religious and cultural traditions, or by cost and personal preferences, or by the express wishes of the deceased. Whilst the majority of people in the UK still choose a "traditional" religious funeral service, an increasing number are finding that a Civil Funeral Ceremony is a more appropriate choice for them to make. Your Funeral Director can help to arrange such a Ceremony.
What is a Civil Funeral Ceremony?
A Civil Funeral Ceremony is, above all, a ceremony that reflects the wishes of the family and is focused on celebrating and/or reflecting the life of your loved one. It is both a dignified tribute and a highly personal memoir, created in consultation with the family or executor.
Where can a Civil Funeral be held?
A Civil Funeral can be held almost anywhere you wish. The Ceremony is appropriate for either a cremation at a crematorium or burial at any non religious burial ground or woodland burial site.
Who conducts a Civil Funeral Ceremony?
The person conducting the Ceremony will be a fully trained professional Funeral Celebrant.
How is a Civil Funeral Ceremony created?
Your Civil Funeral Celebrant will create a ceremony that meets your wishes and requirements. There may be members of your family or friends who would like to speak at the ceremony and the
Celebrant will talk to those who are participating and make sure that the ceremony is well organised. The Celebrant will also liaise with your Funeral Director and the staff at the Crematorium about all aspects of the ceremony.
Music can play a very important part in a Civil Funeral Ceremony and you can include any pieces of music that you feel are particularly appropriate for the ceremony. Families often choose to include additional pieces of poetry or readings that had a special significance to your loved one. You can also include religious items such as a hymn or prayer if you wish. It is very important that you are satisfied with the ceremony content so you will have the opportunity to check the ceremony text before the ceremony takes place to see that all details are correct.
The Celebrant always delivers the ceremony from a script, and you will be offered a copy of the script to keep afterwards.
How can I arrange a Civil Funeral Ceremony?
Call the relevant telephone number at the bottom of this page. Your Funeral Director or a relative or a friend may make the call if you wish. A Civil Funeral Celebrant will then contact you as soon as possible and arrange to meet you. This meeting can be at your home or at the registration office. At this first meeting all the available options to you will be discussed and explained. You will also be asked to provide as much information as possible about your loved one. You may feel it helps to have another member of the family or a close friend with you at this time.
Following the meeting the Funeral Celebrant will create a Ceremony that reflects your wishes. Every family is different and not everyone wants the same type of funeral. A Civil Funeral Ceremony can therefore provide an opportunity to create the most appropriate and meaningful Ceremony for this final act of love and respect.
For further details, please contact
Pat Court
Burton/ Lichfield/ Tamworth Area
01283 233301
Diane Blakeley
Stafford/ Cannock/ Wombourne Area
01785 277880
Evie Jesson
Newcastle/ Leek Area
01538 373191
Last Modified:
14/04/2008 13:39:48
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