Humanist funerals

What is a humanist funeral?

Humanist funeral services are often individually led and conducted by a humanist celebrant, family member or close friend of the person who has passed. They are usually held at a cemetery, woodland burial site or crematorium, with pieces of music played to mark the life of the person that has died.

At the heart of a humanist funeral is the tribute section, which typically lasts up to 15 minutes. It can be written by the celebrant and include a variety of tributes from family members and close friends. Following the tribute, there is time for reflection, which can either be accompanied by music or observed in silence. The committal – when the curtains are closed or the coffin is lowered – will follow, before the ceremony ends with words of thanks.

Our funeral directors can help you understand what a humanist funeral is, the traditions and a typical order of service.

How much does a humanist funeral cost?

The cost of a humanist funeral can vary significantly depending on the cemetery, burial site or crematorium you choose and where you live in the UK. It can cost as little as a few hundred pounds and fluctuate to several thousand. It’s also important to remember that the overall cost of a humanist funeral will depend on what other arrangements you choose to make, such as funeral transport and floral tributes.

Our funeral professionals will be on hand to talk you through the costs involved when arranging a humanist funeral.

Planning a humanist funeral

When planning a humanist funeral, there are several ways you can personalise the service to reflect the life of your loved one.

You should start by checking your loved one’s will, or if they had a list of things they wanted to happen during their funeral. Think about who they were as a person, their favourite types of music and what kind of tributes they would like to be read. Other things to consider are choice of coffin, transport, the wake and floral tributes. The main priority is making the day special and memorable for those who attend.