Role of religion in funerals explored in new report
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New research provides insight into the changing nature of funeral services in the UK.
Photo credit: Rhodi Lopez
The Faith in Funerals report was co-authored by Dr Naomi Thompson, Reader in Youth and Community Work in the Department of Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies (STaCS), Professor Chris Baker, researcher Steve Cheal who is also a celebrant, and researcher Morgan Spacey.
The report explores the changing nature of UK funerals, through interviews with bereaved families, funeral arrangers, religious ministers and independent celebrants.
The increasing role of celebrants in UK funerals is analysed, against the backdrop of a decline in church-led services. The interviews reveal some level of confusion and debate around the meaning of the term celebrant, and the extent of the celebrant’s role in a funeral.
An analysis of 1,000 services led by celebrants also revealed that, despite the services not being church-led, many included some religious content. 76% included at least one hymn, prayer or reading, and 65% included the Lord’s Prayer.
The Faith in Funerals research challenges binaries in relation to funerals with over three quarters of funerals led by independent celebrants incorporating religious content. The everyday funeral is neither entirely religious nor completely secular.
Dr Naomi Thompson, Reader in Youth and Community Work
“While funerals led by independent celebrants might be assumed to be non-religious, they are in fact a fusion of religious, spiritual and non-religious resources, that people use to meet their spiritual needs at times of grief.
“People choose not to use churches for these funerals because they perceive that church leaders will be less flexible and personalised and present a service that is 'more about God' than their loved one. The research demonstrates a persistence of engagement with religion and spirituality in times of grief in the majority of everyday funerals - but a disassociation from the church,” Dr Thompson explained.
The report also reveals changes in funeral practices since the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, especially the increased use of technology for remote attendance, music and sharing images/presentations, and the reduced singing of hymns – the report refers to the ‘death of the organist’ as digital backing tracks are now more common.
The report found a lack of racial and religious diversity amongst celebrants, with Black celebrants interviewed recounting experiences of discrimination. With funeral directors acting as the gatekeepers between celebrants to those needing them, the report recommends training for funeral industry professionals needs to reflect on diversity and discrimination.
The research was supported by the Sir Halley Stewart Trust.
A toolkit, with materials to support funeral arrangers, celebrants and religious ministers to consider the implications of the research has been devised.
Dr Thompson and Professor Chris Baker form part of the Faiths and Civil Society Unit, which brings together politics and policy, sociology and society, professional practice. The Unit encourages interdisciplinary research and knowledge exchange to help belief and non-belief groups, policy-makers and practitioners to work together effectively.