Non - Religious Services

There is no necessity to have a minister of religion at a service at a crematorium or cemetery. There is in fact, no necessity to have anyone take a service. However, if someone is required to officiate, and this person is not to be a minister of religion, there are people who deem themselves as non-religious. One group of people who would be able to take the service would be Humanists.

The Humanist Society of Scotland provides trained officiants to conduct non-religious ceremonies as alternatives to traditional funerals. The ceremony may be held in a private home, a crematorium, a funeral parlour, at a graveside, or at various other places. Although the ceremony will be non-religious, it will not be anti-religious, and care is taken to avoid giving offence to anyone, whatever their personal beliefs.

At a Humanist funeral ceremony, there are usually no prayers, bible readings, hymns, etc. They generally include the playing of musical pieces, on tape or CD, or played by the organist or other live musician(s), as chosen by the family. The service frequently includes readings of prose or poetry from a wide variety of sources.

The main part of the ceremony is normally a tribute, compiled and read by the officiant, celebrating the life history, character etc of the deceased person. This is usually followed by a short period of silent meditation, for mourners to recall personal memories of the deceased; this is also an opportunity for mourners to engage in private prayer, if they so wish.

Usually a Humanist Officiant would charge a fee for taking the funeral service. This fee is currently set at £90.00 and is reviewed annually and subject to change.

For more information on the Humanist Society of Scotland, visit their website.