Humanist or civil celebrant?
In my blog “What is a funeral celebrant?” I explained that bereaved families have a choice whether to have a religious service, led by a religious officiant of the relevant faith, or a non-religious service led by a civil funeral celebrant.
As well as being asked what a funeral celebrant is, I also get asked if being a celebrant means I’m a humanist. The answer is ‘no’. A civil celebrant and a humanist are different.
This blog is designed to highlight the similarities and differences between a humanist and a civil celebrant.
What is Humanism?
First, it’s worth spending a moment understanding the basis and principles of humanism.
Humanist ideas can be traced back over 2,000 years to ancient Greece, Rome, India, and China. It gradually developed into a philosophical and cultural movement emphasising human potential, reason and moral responsibility. Today, humanism is essentially a non-religious philosophy or life stance based on the idea that people can lead ethical, compassionate and fulfilling lives without belief in a god or gods. Humanists place value on empathy and shared humanity, believing that meaning and purpose are created through the lives we live and the relationships we build.
The key point in this brief explanation is that humanism is non-religious, a point we’ll return to later.
Humanist funeral services
A humanist will focus entirely on the person's life, character, relationships and achievements. The service will not include prayers, religious readings, hymns or references to an afterlife. Instead, it may feature personal tributes, favourite music, poetry and moments of reflection that celebrate the individual's life and the impact they had on others.
This approach will definitely suit people who identified with humanist values and may suit people who lived without religious belief. For families who know their loved one would not have wanted a religious ceremony, a humanist funeral can feel like a fitting and authentic farewell.
Civil celebrancy
A civil celebrant also creates a personalised funeral centred on the life of the person who has died. Like a humanist service, the ceremony tells their story, celebrates their personality and acknowledges the love they shared with family and friends.
The key difference is flexibility.
A civil celebrant is not guided by a particular philosophy or belief system – they may personally follow a faith, be agnostic or atheist, but that is immaterial to the service they create. They work with each family to create a service that reflects the wishes of the deceased and those closest to them.
This means a civil funeral service may be entirely non-religious, or it may include gentle elements of faith if these would bring comfort to family members or reflect an aspect of the person's life. For example, the service might include a favourite hymn, a Bible reading, the Lord's Prayer or a quiet blessing alongside personal tributes and music.
The emphasis is always on creating a ceremony that feels right for the individual rather than following a prescribed format.
Which to choose
There is no right or wrong choice; only the one that best reflects the person you are remembering.
As well as being the natural choice for humanists, a humanist funeral may be the most appropriate option for those who held strong non-religious beliefs and would not have wanted any religious content.
A civil celebrant may be the better choice if the deceased was not devoutly religious but was an occasional churchgoer or a quiet believer. Equally, if the family would appreciate a small amount of religious content to cater for a mix of beliefs within the family and friendship circles.
Civil celebrant services afford more flexibility over what is included in the ceremony and will provide a personalised service without being tied to a particular philosophy.
A life-centred ceremony
Whether led by a humanist or a civil celebrant, the most meaningful funerals are those that genuinely reflect the person who has died.
The role of a celebrant is to listen carefully, understand what mattered most and create a ceremony that honours a unique life with warmth, dignity and authenticity. Whether that means a purely humanist service or a flexible civil ceremony, the focus remains the same: celebrating a life lived and offering comfort to those left behind.