Christine Castleton Celebrant - Compassionate Funeral Services

Compassionate Civil Funeral Celebrant Services

I commit to provide for you heartfelt civil funeral services, honouring your loved ones lives with dignity and respect. Each ceremony is written to be highly personalised to reflect the unique essence of your loved ones, their life and their legacy.

While I am a civil celebrant, I hold no specific allegiance to any group, so as well as creating your bespoke ceremony I am happy to discuss the inclusion of spiritual and religious content if this is something you feel is appropriate.

Honouring Lives with Dignity

Creating Personalised Ceremonies for You

I am an inclusive funeral celebrant who will work with you to create a ceremony that is truly bespoke for your loved one. I believe that everyone deserves a ceremony that is heartfelt and that honours their life with dignity and respect. Using your words and memories I will create a ceremony telling your loved ones story as you believe it should be told.

We shouldn’t be afraid to celebrate the uniqueness of people. Every person deserves a final farewell that is reflective of who they are, showcasing their achievements in life and their beliefs. Working with you, I will create a ceremony that will be the focus of the day, incorporating the things that made your loved one happy, celebrating their life and encapsulating their spirit.

Services - Funerals and More

Below is a list of standard services I offer to help you understand. Each service is written to be bespoke. I will guide you to ensure that each ceremony is as unique as your loved one. While the services listed below are 'standard' services, I appreciate that services are as individual as people, so if you want something 'outside of the norm' then get in touch as I'd love to help.

Memorial Ceremony Services

A slightly less formal event than a full funeral service a memorial service will take place in the place of your choosing with less restriction on timing compared to the funeral day itself. Often in a place that was important to your loved one, such as a pub or club.

For a memorial ceremony my role involves working with you to create a script that is reflective of your loved one, similar to the funeral service. Together with you I will structure the event including meeting with your friends and family. Creating the timeline for the ceremony I will guide you and suggest content such as readings, poetry, song or music. I will ensure the day runs smoothly by curating an order of service and coordinating anyone who is participating.

On the day, I will act as Master of Ceremonies welcoming everyone to the event and overseeing the scheduling.

A group of people dressed in formal attire stand around a casket adorned with colorful roses. The setting appears to be a cemetery, with gravestones and manicured grass visible. Some individuals are holding books, likely hymnals or religious texts.

Funeral Services

I can provide for you a truly bespoke ceremony based on your loved one. I will meet with you and talk you through every step of the service. I will be with you every step of the way from creating the ceremony using your words to delivering the ceremony on the day. I will help you prepare all elements of the ceremony from music to readings and poetry if required.

With regular communications, you will have full control over the content of the service, a draft copy will be provided ahead of time so there are no surprises on the day. I am happy to amend and tweak a ceremony as much as you like until you are truly happy with the content.

On the day at the crematorium or burial ground I will deliver a celebration that is warm, dignified and one that you are confident reflects your loved one as you will have had full control of its content and sight of the ceremony ahead of time.

A formal gathering in a room decorated with cascading white flowers and draped fabric. A man in a suit stands beside a table adorned with floral arrangements, while another person in a patterned dress stands in the background, smiling. The ambiance is elegant and solemn.

Interment of Ashes Ceremony

Supportive Funeral Guidance

This is a special ceremony that allows opportunity for a final goodbye away from the stresses of the funeral. Usually these services occur a few weeks after the funeral.

Maybe you were feeling overwhelmed at the funeral and want a more intimate service to say a gentle goodbye? Maybe you had family that were unable to attend the funeral, but would like the opportunity to pay their respects. I am happy to provide this service whether or not I delivered the funeral for your loved one

Many of us are being more prepared in terms of our death. Or maybe you are one of those people who always have to have the last word? Well, this is the ultimate way to ensure it. I can work with you to provide your life story in your own words. Working with you, we can write your story as you want it to be told. The same as the funeral services, I will write your eulogy and you will have full sight of it as soon as it is written. You will receive a draft copy of the ceremony that we can amend as many times as you would like until you are happy. Once that is finalised a copy will be sent to you and your funeral director (if applicable). I will retain a copy for delivery on the day.

If you wish, we can put together a full service including special music of your choosing, poetry or even readings, everything is entirely your choice, but I will guide you gently on finalising the perfect celebration of you.

Please note, that I will always try my best to ensure I am available to deliver your ceremony upon your passing and will work with your family and funeral directors to do this. However, there may be occasions where I am unable to officiate.