SECULAR CEREMONIES: Ceremonies for births, marriages and deaths no longer have to be religious. ALEX EMERY looks at the increase in secular services.
Births, marriages and deaths are three of life's milestones that rarely pass without ceremony.
But for those who live without conventional religious beliefs, choosing the right kind of service can be confusing.
This is where secular, or humanist, ceremonies come into their own, offering alternatives to religious forms of service.
Humanist funerals can take place in village halls, meeting places and, with the vicar's approval, in some churches.
Judith and Mike Stares, from Old Town, are accredited officiants, which means they can conduct humanist naming ceremonies for babies, weddings and funerals.
They say between them they conduct on a monthly average around 15 funerals and one wedding.
Baby naming ceremonies occur on average once every six weeks.
Judith, 60, explained: "It would be hard to compare these statistics with religious or registrar ceremonies as there are lots of those in Wiltshire, and just Mike and me for the humanist services.
"I have held funeral services in the Bell Hotel in Malmesbury and Marlbor-ough Town Hall, even one in someone's garden, which is allowed. And we do conduct services in churches if we have the vicar's blessing.
"I have been a humanist for many years and although I was brought up in a religious environment it never meant anything to me.
"When my mother Doris died eight years ago I wanted a humanist funeral for her but at that time it wasn't available in Swindon. So the Humanist Association helped me do it instead.
"After that I went on courses to become accredited."
Judith estimates she has conducted more than 600 funerals since she qualified seven years ago.
She said: "People have said they are blown away by the ceremonies. I'm not decrying what vicars do but we offer a very personal service, which is about the person's life as opposed to the life hereafter.
"Humanist weddings give people the chance to choose their own venue, such as an underwater service or at Avebury, whereas registrars have limited locations.
"Also people may want to include hymns because they like the tune which is something they can't do in registrar services."
To find out more call Judith and Mike on Swindon 485461.
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