Present Ascent — Lucy Biggs — Independent Funeral Celebrant, Cheshire

Guidance & FAQs

Throughout the funeral planning process there are options, choices and a wealth of kind, informed and experienced people to help you. You don’t have to do anything a ‘certain’ nor ‘traditional’ way, if you don’t want to — take your time to find a funeral director and/or celebrant/minister who supports you in exploring what a funeral can be. The guidance, FAQs and recommended supplier list below I hope go some way towards supporting you.

Planning a Funeral

Funerals can be held at a crematorium, natural burial ground, chapel, religious building or cemetery, or at a different venue… maybe someone's home or garden, a private venue (such as a hotel, wedding venue, school hall, community centre, theatre, historic building or stately home) or at a natural outdoor space such as a beach, hillside, or woodland (with the landowner’s permission).

There are many options for coffins (including natural biodegradable materials such as willow, wool shrouds, wood, mycelium and cardboard), hearses/vehicles, urns, flowers and of course, what everyone wears. Take your time to explore these options and ask for help from your funeral director and/or celebrant if you need it.

A funeral ceremony can be led by a celebrant, clergy, a religious leader, or it can be led by you (plus family and friends too) if you feel able. There is no legal requirement for someone else to lead the ceremony for you. Some celebrants are independent (or civil) and others are Humanist. I am an independent celebrant. This means that I am able to create funeral ceremonies that are crafted in a way that touches on many aspects of a person’s life — all that they love, their religious or spiritual beliefs (if they have or had them) and/or culture, their passions, their personality. I believe in something ‘greater than ourselves’, though I don’t belong to any one religion. You could think of me as the middle ground between clergy/a religious leader and a Humanist celebrant.

Whilst many funeral directors will recommend (or appoint) celebrants whom they know well and work alongside regularly, exactly who supports you is always your choice. In relation to myself, I know the majority of the funeral directors throughout Macclesfield and more broadly across Cheshire, the Peak District and South Manchester. I’ll gladly work alongside them all and will always call them to confirm my support and/or introduce myself if I haven’t previously worked alongside them.

Bear in mind that celebrants each charge a fee that they feel appropriate for their work – this is always OK as we are simply like a florist or another supplier, external to the funeral directors’ fees (known as 'disbursements'). This fee may be different to a religious leader and/or another celebrant, which is solely a reflection of us all being individual practitioners, providing different types of service. A good celebrant will always talk openly to you about their approach and their fees so that you can make an informed decision. Throughout the ceremony planning process, and on the day, a good celebrant will communicate professionally and in unison with the funeral director, and vice versa.

When planning and creating a funeral or memorial it’s important to ensure that a suitable amount of time and space is given to the ceremony itself. This is sometimes determined by cost (and also date options), but, for example, if you feel that the standard time period at a crematorium may not be long enough, do discuss this with your funeral director, celebrant or venue to see if there are any alternative/longer options available.

In terms of the ceremony itself, there is no right or wrong thing to do. Seating arrangements can be formal — in rows, or informal — in a circle or horseshoe (dependant on the venue, though some offer flexibility). You may like to include traditional or contemporary rituals or elements pertaining to personal, religious or spiritual beliefs such as readings, prayers, meditation or the lighting of candles. There could be live music, singing, dancing or other artistic contributions perhaps involving children, or there could be periods of silence. It is possible to hold joy as well as sadness during this time.

When someone dies, there are several options relating to burial or cremation which, in turn, affect where, when and how a ceremony is held. A person can also be cremated without a ceremony, or, at least, without a ceremony that takes place at the same place and time as cremation — this is known as direct or unattended cremation. However, in this instance, a separate ceremony can still take place at a different location, on a different day. The gathering of people in their honour might still be called a funeral, memorial or celebration of life, say, with their urn and ashes present during the ceremony, if you wish.

If a person is cremated (as opposed to buried) and you then receive their ashes, there are several things to consider in terms of what to do next. They can be kept with you at home, they can be scattered somewhere special or significant, or they can be placed or buried within a permanent place, known as interment. Scattering or interment ceremonies can also be planned.

Planning ahead

The only certain thing in this life, is that we will all die. After death, your funeral is an important time, particularly for the living in their grief. You might have had the odd conversation over dinner about whether or not you’d like to be cremated or buried, but often these wishes aren’t recorded (nor remembered), plus there is so much more to think about.

Making plans for our own funeral and talking about death with the people that you love can seem, at first, like an odd thing to do, but it can also help you to live more fully knowing that a plan is in place.

Most of us do not know when we will die and therefore it can be hard to know when to have these kinds of conversations, but my advice is — start now, at any age — and then review it every 3-5 years. If you know that you will die relatively soon, either due to a terminal illness or in having reached a very elderly age, now is a really good time to learn more about options and choice in order to bring a plan together.

Faqs

: The Gov.uk website presents a step-by-step guide to the practical things that need to be done when someone dies. You can view this here

From a less practical perspective, it can be helpful to know that, in most cases, there is no need to rush your decision making. If your person has died at home, in a hospital, care home, or hospice, know that you can take some time to think about and research who you might like to support you. For example, you can call various funeral directors (if you would like to use one) to gain a sense of their nature and their approach. The same goes for venues, celebrants and anyone else who may be involved in supporting you.
: Independent celebrants and Humanist celebrants can create and support very similar types of funeral ceremonies, tailored entirely to an individual person’s life, personality, culture, passions and all that they loved. Whilst a Humanist celebrant wouldn’t include anything that referenced any ‘being’ or god ‘higher’ than a human (though some are happy for someone in attendance to do so), an independent celebrant could include reference to, or elements of a person’s religious or spiritual beliefs. An example that I often share is that I may be supporting a ceremony for a person who was raised a Christian but then followed Buddhist practices for the rest of their life… Their parents, if in attendance, may like to include the Lords Prayer, but we could also include a period of Buddist-related meditation with chime bowls, for example. A Humanist celebrant would likely not wish to include either religion, and a religious leader might be unlikely to include a mix of religions. As a celebrant, I cannot and should not pretend to be ordained nor a leader of any religion, but I can honour someone’s beliefs through the inclusion of related aspects.
: A funeral celebrant can support you in creating a funeral ceremony that is personal and meaningful — crafted in a way that touches on many aspects of your person’s story. An independent celebrant (such as myself) can include all that they loved, aspects of their religious or spiritual beliefs (if they have or had them) and/or culture, their passions, their personality. A Humanist celebrant can do this too, minus the religious element. A ceremony can also be reflective of, and include, specific people and communities that surround them.
: I do this work because I care greatly about our experience, and navigation of, the funeral space. I support funeral ceremonies only, as opposed to weddings and naming ceremonies too. It also matters so very much how we gather for the person we are honouring, and that we get that time exactly right — both for them and for those in attendance. At the hardest of times, ensuring a ‘good’ and calm experience of a funeral, can, I believe, have a profoundly ‘positive’ impact on the grief journey thereafter.
: Yes, the choice is always yours to make. What’s important is that you are supported by someone who feels like a good fit. If you are not sure, research the options local to you… The Celebrant Directory and Funeralcelebrants.org are a good place to start, plus you can also ask your funeral director (if you are being supported by one) for their recommendations. Overall, it’s important to remember that who supports you as a celebrant is always your choice. All good funeral celebrants will be happy to speak to you over the phone ahead of time to talk to you about their approach and their fee enabling you to make your own choice. In addition, ahead of planning a funeral with a funeral director, you may already have a celebrant in mind. You can always share this choice with them directly and it should be honoured by them.
: I led my first ceremonies in 2022 and then began supporting families full-time from January 2023. As of the end of 2025, I have supported 200 precious people’s ceremonies. I’m also proud and grateful to have been recognised as The Good Funeral Awards’ ‘Funeral Celebrant of the Year’ 2024 - this was thanks to statements prepared by families and funeral professionals that I’ve stood alongside. My testimonials page here also provides a picture of my approach and nature, for reassurance.
: It can be good to speak as early as possible in planning your person’s ceremony, including choosing a date, time and location. Some families or friends speak with me very shortly after their person has died, or even before they have died. In some instances, we might also discuss funeral director options and choice local to you, along with venue options too. We can then all work together, alongside your chosen funeral director (if applicable) and venue to plan a date and time for your person’s ceremony.

At other times, a date, time and location may have already been planned by yourself and/or your funeral director. If so, do get in touch as soon as possible. I’d be glad to support you if I have availability. I’ll also contact your funeral director to confirm my support and learn of any prior-arranged details.

There are then three main stages to us planning a funeral ceremony together…

Firstly, we will meet (usually in person) in order for me to learn more about the person for whom the ceremony is for. We’ll also discuss how you would like the ceremony to feel on the day — any hopes or ideas you may have (including contributions and/or music or readings) plus any worries you may have. We can meet at your home, at another venue, at a funeral directors’ premises or online (accommodating varying timezones, if required). Others can join us too if you feel that this would be helpful. I am there to support you and I will listen and guide our meeting with gentleness and care.

Secondly, I’ll prepare a proposed plan for your person’s ceremony (otherwise known as the ‘Order of Service’ contents). I’ll then share this with you for feedback ahead of preparing the broader script for the ceremony. Sometimes, this includes the writing of a eulogy and/or broader tributes, if you would like them, and if you don’t wish to write these yourselves — anything is OK. Everything that I prepare, I will share with you ahead of time so that you can take the time to read it and reflect. If you would like to make any amends, that is always OK. My role is an act of service to you at this time — everything is yours to check through — then you needn’t worry about errors nor inaccuracies cropping up unawares. It’s important, and my hope in supporting you, that you are as comfortable as possible with what we have planned.

The final stage is the ceremony itself. I will give you a call a day or two before to see how you are — this is particularly important after sometimes weeks of digital communications. On the day, I will be there early to greet you as you arrive and will then lead us to the ceremony space. I will lead the ceremony (if this is the approach that we have decided upon, or I will facilitate otherwise) and also help any contributors with their elements too. We will move steadily through the time together. I will be responsive to the needs of the room; and flexible to any last-minute changes required. At the end, we can spend some time together until everyone feels ready to depart. I will also prepare a keepsake copy of the ceremony script for you.
: A celebration of life is simply a different name for a funeral. Funerals are traditionally thought of as relatively formal — but in fact, a funeral can be whatever you would like it to be. You could call it a celebration of life and still have elements of formality, or you could call it a funeral and still have elements of celebration. A celebration of life also doesn’t have to be soley ‘celebratory’ in feeling – it can also be gentle and/or sombre in parts. What matters is that you have the opportunity to create something that is right for the person who has died, and the people who surround them. A good funeral director and/or funeral celebrant will help you to do this.
: A living funeral is an opportunity to celebrate and/or recognise all that your life has been with those that love and care for you, whilst you are still alive. It is typically considered by those who have a terminal illness, or by those of a very old age where they know that they will die ‘soon’. You can choose when, where and how a living funeral takes place, along with who is there. You can lead or contribute to the ceremony yourself, if you would like to, and/or others can contribute too. Living funerals can be incredibly joyous, full of love and laughter and a time to truly connect in a way that is very rare during our day-to-day lives. If you would like to watch an example of a living funeral, I recommend Grayson Perry’s Rites of Passage series on All 4. Episode 1 is about death and documents a living funeral beautifully. There was also an article about living funerals published in the Guardian in 2024.
: Poppys have prepared the following, excellent resource which explains what natural burial is - here is the link.
: Direct cremation (also known as unattended cremation), is where a person is cremated either locally or at another national location without a broader funeral ceremony or service taking place at the crematorium at the same time as cremation.

Please note that if you are considering this option, your local funeral director will also offer direct or unattended cremation, as opposed to needing use a national firm. Many local funeral directors offer more flexibility that the national firms, along with your person being care for locally by a funeral director that you can meet with in-person.
: Yes, you can. There are two aspects to consider when someone dies – 1) the legal and dignified burial or cremation of their body and 2) the gathering of people to acknowledge and mourn their death/celebrate their life. These two aspects can happen at the same time/place, or separately. If you choose to gather after direct (or unattended) cremation, you could have your person’s ashes within an urn at the ceremony, if you would like to.

Gathering after direct (or unattended) cremation can give you more time to plan a ceremony, which can be helpful. You can have a funeral, a memorial service, a celebration of life ceremony at any venue or a time of silence in a woodland, or a special dinner — the options are limitless and can be entirely tailored to the person who has died, and the hopes of those close to them. A celebrant can help you to plan this kind of event, either before, or after direct (or unattended) cremation.

Funeral Venues in Cheshire, Manchester and the Peak District

Below is a list of funeral venues that you might wish to consider as you plan a funeral. In addition to these locations, funerals can also be held at someone’s home or garden, a private venue (such as a hotel, wedding venue, school hall, community centre, theatre, historic building or stately home) or at a natural outdoor space such as a beach, hillside, or woodland (with the landowner’s permission). There are many options, and there is choice for families. Do get in touch if you would like to discuss your plans and/or ideas.

Natural Burial Grounds in Cheshire

Adlington Memorial Park, near Macclesfield
Monument Meadow Natural Burial Ground, Chester
Swanlow Park Cemetery, Winsford
Friends of Nature Burial Ground, Knutsford

Natural Burial Grounds Further Afield

Woodland Burial Company, Chesterfield

Crematoriums in Cheshire

Birches Remembrance Park & Crematorium
Macclesfield Crematorium
Chester Crematorium
Vale Royal Crematorium
Walton Lea Crematorium
Widnes Crematorium
Crewe Crematorium

Crematoriums in Manchester

Altrincham Crematorium
Stockport Crematorium

Crematoriums in the Peak District

There are no crematoriums within the Peak District itself. The nearest ones are to the west within Cheshire and Greater Manchester as listed above, to the east at Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium or Grenoside Crematorium, or to the south at Markeaton Crematorium, Trent Valley Crematorium, Bretby Crematorium or Lichfield & District Crematorium.

Community Events

Talking openly about death, dying and funeral options and choice can be hugely beneficial to both our home lives and communities. It can help us to feel more prepared ahead of time and can help those navigating grief and loss to feel better supported.

I run events and community talks throughout the year to help instigate and facilitate these conversations.

Previous events have included:

Community Talk for Macclesfield Samaritans, April 2023
Community Talk at the NeuroMuscular Centre, May 2023
Community Talk at the Bridgend Centre, Bollington, May 2023
Funeral Feast – a Present Ascent X Feastable collaboration, September 2023
Funeral Feast – a Present Ascent X Feastable collaboration, April 2024
Funeral Feast – a Present Ascent X Feastable collaboration, November 2024

Recommended Suppliers

From flowers to coffins, urns, photography, videography and food, the individuals below I know, trust and work alongside regularly. If you are looking to plan any of these ceremony aspects, I wholly recommend them.