The Kinver Celebrant - Steve Anderson M.Sc

I have worked in the justice and advice sectors and been involved in supporting families through difficult, sudden and traumatic life experiences for over 30 years. This has allowed me to develop the listening and supportive skills needed to help the bereaved, and in turn it has given me a greater understanding of their needs.

Like many, I have too often been to funerals where the officiant has barely taken any time to celebrate the life of the person who has died and what they meant to the people at the funeral, but instead focused on their death. I believe that the best way we can mark the passing of a loved one is to cherish and celebrate all the positive things they contributed to our lives, and how they will live on in our memories, and not to dwell on their loss.

With this in mind I decided to take a new path in my life and train as a funeral celebrant.

I have since undergone rigorous training and assessment with Humanists UK, to deliver funeral services.

Alongside my celebrancy services I am active volunteer and campaigner on countryside issues, a keen walker and have a deep affinity to our local landscape and heritage.

Humanism - throughout recorded history there have been non-religious people who have believed that this life is the only life we have, that the universe is a natural phenomenon with no supernatural side, and that we can live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. They have trusted to the scientific method, evidence, and reason to discover truths about the universe and have placed human welfare and happiness at the centre of their ethical decision making.

Today, people who share these beliefs and values are called humanists and this combination of attitudes is called humanism. Many millions of people in the UK share this way of living and of looking at the world, but many of them have not heard the word ‘humanist’ and don’t realise that it describes what they believe.

For more information visit humanism.org.uk