WELCOME

Grief is never easy, and planning a funeral while navigating it can feel overwhelming.

The death of a family member or friend is always a very difficult experience, so a funeral service must be handled with care and respect. As an independent celebrant, the aim is to create ceremonies that honour and celebrate each person’s life, working closely with those planning the funeral to ensure that their wishes are met.

Independent Funeral Celebrant

Heartfelt, Personal Farewells Across London

Hello, I’m Darren Entwistle - based in London and qualified through the Fellowship of Independent Celebrants. I'm dedicated to creating personal, respectful, and meaningful ceremonies. I understand how deeply painful it can be to lose someone close, and how important it is to mark their life in a way that feels genuine and right for you.

Where Every Life Story is Honoured with Dignity and Heart

Right now, you don’t need someone who simply goes through the motions - you need someone who truly "gets it." Someone who will approach this moment with emotional intelligence, warmth, and genuine care for your loved one’s story. I’m here to help you honour their life in a way that feels personal, meaningful, and right for you.

What is a Celebrant?

A celebrant is a person who leads or officiates at ceremonies, particularly weddings, funerals, naming ceremonies, and other life events, often in a non-religious way. We help create and conduct meaningful events. Unlike religious ministers, celebrants tailor services to your wishes, beliefs, and values. Usually from a non-clergy background, Funeral celebrants help organise and conduct funerals, supporting bereaved families every step of the way, with the aim of celebrating the life of the person who has died.

About Me

I’m a qualified Independent Funeral Celebrant and a member of the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants, offering personal, meaningful ceremonies that honour life with warmth, dignity, and compassion.

I bring a calm, compassionate presence to every service, with strong public speaking skills and a deep sensitivity to the emotions that surround loss. My approach is always emotionally intelligent, respectful, and tailored to each family’s needs.

What I bring to my work:

Skilled in writing and delivering heartfelt, personalised funeral ceremonies
Deep understanding of grief and bereavement through personal experience
Flexible in tone - from spiritual and religious to entirely secular
Comfortable working across diverse cultural and personal backgrounds
Collaborative and respectful in working with families and Funeral Directors
Based in London with knowledge of all 32 boroughs & the City of London

Every life is unique - and every farewell should be too. I’m here to help you shape a ceremony that feels right, reflects your loved one, and brings comfort at a difficult time.

Serving Families Across London

I work with families across all 32 London boroughs plus the City of London - From Hackney to Harrow, Hammersmith to Haringey - covering all corners of London. - helping them create beautiful alternatives to traditional funerals. These ceremonies are warm, inclusive, and deeply personal. Now in my 50s, having called London home for over 30 years, I bring empathy, calm, and emotional intelligence to every service. This work is more than a profession - it’s a privilege and a calling.

Understanding Your Grief

This is likely a very difficult time, and I want you to know you’re not alone. Losing my father at a young age taught me that grief is deeply personal, and that a meaningful ceremony can offer real comfort during the hardest times. That experience shaped who I am today. I understand how grief feels and how deeply important it is to create a ceremony that truly reflects the life and spirit of your loved one.

Why I Became a Funeral Celebrant

I became an independent Funeral Celebrant because I believe every life deserves to be honoured with warmth, dignity, and real understanding. I wanted to be the kind of person families could trust — to listen, and to create a farewell that truly reflects the person they loved. Becoming a celebrant feels like a calling — to walk alongside people at one of life’s most tender moments and to help tell stories that will be remembered long after the ceremony ends.

How I Work

You may have found my website through a Funeral Director, a recommendation, or simply by searching for a service that feels a little different. However you arrived, I understand that reaching out often comes at one of life’s hardest moments. Please know that I am here to help you create a ceremony that is beautiful, personal, and true to your loved one’s memory.

Personalised Ceremony Options

When planning a funeral, many people are not fully aware of the wide range of choices available. It’s easy to accept the first suggestion without realising the service could be far more personal - more reflective of the individual being honoured.

Traditionally, funerals are led either by a Religious Minister or a Humanist Celebrant, offering either a religious or purely secular ceremony. But today, many people find themselves somewhere in between. They may or may not have been churchgoers, yet still held a sense of spirituality, tradition, or values that deserve to be part of their farewell. I can create a ceremony that is entirely non-religious if you wish, or we can weave in gentle spiritual elements - such as prayers, hymns, reflections, or blessings - whatever feels right for you and your family.

Creating Heartfelt, Life-Centred Ceremonies

These ceremonies are for those who want something more heartfelt and genuine than a traditional service can often provide. Rather than focusing on death, my ceremonies celebrate life - uplifting, warm, and deeply personal occasions where memories, laughter, love, and even quirks are shared and cherished.

Each service I write is created from scratch, with no templates or assumptions - just real stories and meaningful tributes that honour the individuality of the person who has died.

Whenever possible, I will meet with you in person, whether you are a family member, a friend, or an executor, to discuss your wishes and ideas. If meeting face-to-face isn’t practical, we can easily arrange everything over Zoom, telephone, or email.

Involving Loved Ones

You may wish to involve family and friends with readings, music, poems, or personal tributes. There are no rules - only possibilities. I encourage everyone who wants to participate to do so in a way that feels natural and significant to them. We can also explore more creative and unique ways to mark your loved one’s life — ways that reflect their passions, character, and spirit, ensuring the ceremony is a true reflection of the life they lived.

Here to Support You Every Step of the Way

Please feel free to reach out - I would be honoured to help you create a fitting and memorable farewell. Whatever your wishes, I am here to guide and support you every step of the way.

I’m also very happy to speak with other family members or friends if you’d like their memories or reflections included in the ceremony. Often, these shared stories bring new warmth and perspective, helping us create something truly personal.

After we’ve spoken - and after any further chats - I’ll put together a first draft of the service and send it to you. From there, we’ll gently shape it together until it feels just right in tone, content, and spirit.

Other FAQ's

How is a funeral with a Celebrant different from a traditional funeral?

Traditional funerals are often led by clergy or follow set religious customs. A celebrant-led ceremony is fully personalised, focusing on the individual’s life story, memories, and personality. It can be secular, spiritual, or include religious elements - whatever feels right for you.

How soon can you conduct the funeral?

I aim to be flexible and accommodating, often able to meet and plan within days. The timing depends on the funeral home, venue availability, and your needs.

Can I be involved in planning the ceremony?

Absolutely. I work closely with families, friends, and executors to include readings, music, personal stories, and rituals that are meaningful to you. Your input shapes the entire service.

Do you write the ceremony yourself?

Yes, each ceremony is custom written to reflect your loved one’s life, values, and personality, ensuring a truly unique farewell.

Can you include religious or spiritual elements?

Yes, of course. Whether you want a fully non-religious ceremony or prefer to incorporate prayers, hymns, or blessings, I’ll help create a service that fully fits with your beliefs.

What if family or friends want to participate?

Everyone is welcome to contribute. Readings, music, tributes, or other personal touches can be included to make the ceremony even more special.

How much do your services cost?

My fees typically range from £250 to £450 depending on the ceremony’s location and complexity. I’m happy to discuss your specific needs and provide a clear quote.

How do we get started?

You can contact me by phone, or email.

I offer a no-obligation initial conversation to understand your wishes and explain how I can help.

You can contact me by phone: 07906 484 001 or email: info@darrenentwistlecelebrant.com