Simon Smith and Jane Morrell (green fuse) are two people who campaign tirelessly for better funerals. They are empathic and will work with you collaboratively to create a richly unique ceremony. They'll never do more than one funeral in a day. They'll offer you all the choices there are out there. They'll encourage your participation. Above all, they'll give you as much time as you need. They offer information, approachability and clear information."
The Good Funeral Guide Best Funeral Directors.
Main image: Glass artist Arabella Marshall
This programme was written and is taught by Jane Morrell, Simon Smith and Basira Ward Davies, funeral directors and celebrants. Jane and Simon have their own company in Totnes, and authors of We Need To Talk About The Funeral. Basira is a funeral celebrant in Frome.
The Funeral Celebrant programme covers all aspects of being a funeral celebrant and allows the participants to delve deeply into the issues around death, funerals and our own feelings around mortality. But don't worry, there's a lightness of touch too.
A practice ceremony
The course recognises the wonderful diversity of spiritual beliefs, recognising that most people are unaffiliated to a religion but still believe in something. We see beauty, of words, music and the setting, to be a vital element of a funeral - an expression of love and something transcendent and transformative.
The programme begins with three days together, followed by a gap of three months in which a portfolio of assignments is completed, before returning for the final two days. We believe taking this extra time is vital to building a depth of confidence and assurance. We provide you with a 100 page manual, feedback on assignments and supervision for your first five funerals. On successful completion of the five days, you receive a preliminary certificate, and on successful completion of five supervised funerals and all assignments, we issue you with your accreditation diploma. Each course is for a maximum of 8 participants.
The course covers all the information you need to know and includes visiting funeral venues, both traditional and less conventional. We also have an exciting team to bring you vital skills practice, including one-to-one work on reading and presentation skills with actor Pete Joscelyne, voice projection and leading singing with musician and singer Basira Ward Davies.
The training programme is thorough, practical, well-structured and inspiring.
Download the funeral celebrant training brochure
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