What can I say!? Thank you so much Jane and Simon. You have done a great job. My first funeral as a celebrant, and even the crematorium phoned to say thanks and what a good job it was, professional to the tiniest detail. That's a tribute to you and the thoroughness of your training. Most important was the family. They had a funeral that they felt really honoured their son and his life. To have helped in a small way to deal with this horrendous tragedy was a privilege. This is absolutely the most amazing, profound and meaningful job I have ever done."
Angela Ward
Main image: Glass artist Arabella Marshall
Now booking for March.
We're particularly looking for celebrants in the West Midlands and North West.
To be able to help a family devise and deliver a beautiful and personal funeral ceremony, which exactly meets their wishes and leaves them with good memories and something to cherish, is a rare gift. It is also a fascinating, fulfilling and challenging role.
The green fuse celebrant training course attracts people who genuinely care about people's wishes and have no attachment to dogma. They are inspired to honour the individual who has died and to recognise the real person and the value of the life that has ended. A good funeral reflects the beauty of life and gives hope to the bereaved.
In the same way we respect you as an individual. The training is designed to help you to find your own best way to be an excellent funeral celebrant, in your own style.
The quality and the depth of training requires that the training takes place over three or four months. The time for reflection, reading and practical assignments allows the future celebrant to assimilate and explore the fundamental issues of both the practical aspects of ceremony and working with people in an intimate and sensitive way.
Jane and Simon's deep experience and dedication to this work is shown in the enormous care that goes into helping the celebrants with every facet of the role. They are assisted by Basira Ward Davis, singing teacher and voice coach, and Pete Joscelyn, actor and performer.
Working in small groups enables students to engage fully with their own experiences and feelings around death and dying. This atmosphere of trust and empathic attention encourages the green fuse celebrant to be deeply kind and attentive to the families with whom they work.
Once you begin the training you can join our lively network of all those who have trained with green fuse, to swap experiences and ideas and to get support and information. It's a continuous professional development programme. We market green fuse trained independent funeral celebrants direct to funeral directors and the public, so although you'll be self-employed, you won't be doing it alone. No matter how long since you completed the training, Jane and Simon are available for support and advice.
The training is held at Stanborough House, a beautiful and quiet Devon country house in lovely grounds. With luxurious rooms, a hot tub and summer swimming pool, your hosts Sophie and Peter will look after you with home-cooked food and an exceptional level of care. Away from the bustle of everyday life, you can delve deeply into the issues around death, funerals and your own feelings around mortality. But also there is always much laughter on the courses and a lightness of touch. As one participant remarked, "I didn't know learning about death could be this much fun!"
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