What is a funeral celebrant and how to find one

Planning a funeral can be a really overwhelming time. With so much to consider, it can be helpful to have someone to help organise the funeral with you. 

That's where funeral celebrants come in. In this article, we look at what a funeral celebrant is, what they do and where you can find one.

What is a funeral celebrant?

A funeral celebrant is a qualified host of a funeral or celebration of life, and they will officiate the service.

Funeral celebrants can be either religious or non-religious.

What does a funeral celebrant do?

Before the service

A celebrant will spend time with the loved ones of the person who has died. They will help you to arrange the order of service and lead it on the day.

Funeral celebrants will aim to make the funeral as personal as possible, and will ask families and friends questions about their loved one.

During the service

A funeral celebrant will introduce people who are taking part and paying tribute to the deceased, as well as inviting people to join in hymns or chosen songs.

Different types of funeral celebrants

There are a few different types of funeral celebrants. As we mentioned earlier, you can find funeral celebrants who are either religious or non-religious.

A celebrant who is non-religious might leave a pause during the service to give loved ones the opportunity to for silent prayer. These are sometimes known as 'humanist celebrants'.

Other celebrants might add some religious or spiritual elements to the service. However, they are not affiliated to a religion or church. These are know as 'civil celebrants'.

How to find the right funeral celebrant

Now you know about the different types of funeral celebrants, you can decide what is right for you and get in touch with celebrants in your area. 

We have listed below some helpful resources to help you find funeral celebrants, interfaith ministers or Church of England ministers.  

• Funeral celebrant
  Find out what each celebrant can offer you and what they specialise in. 
  
  Find a funeral celebrant here.
  
• Interfaith minister
  Find a minister who can create a personal service and bring in aspects of religion of spirituality, if desired. 
  
  Find an interfaith minister here.
  
• Church of England minister
  Find a vicar or licensed lay minister to lead your funeral service. 
  
  Find a Church of England minister here.

How much does a funeral celebrant cost?

It does depend on where you are in the country, but the average cost of a funeral celebrant is between £150 - £250.

Make sure you ask what is included in this price, and if there are any additional charges on top of this fee.

Low cost funerals with Celebration of Life

At Celebration of Life, we provide a fully inclusive prepaid funeral plan at the cost of just £1,450. Our low cost funerals includes24/7 help and guidance, collection from anywhere in Great Britain, an unattended cremation at our trusted partner crematorium, all disbursements including doctors’ fees, as well as your ashes returned to a loved one.

If you’d like to join the growing number of people choosing prepaid funeral plans, please contact our friendly team today, or learn more about our prepaid funeral plan offering here.