It allows us to offer the hss promise, providing you with security and peace of mind when you book with us. The m arriage and civil partnership scotland act 2014 came into force o n hogmanay 2014 making scotland the 17th country in the world to legalise same sex marriages. Humanism is a positive, ethical philosophy of life based on concern for humanity in general. A humanist celebrant or humanist officiant is a person who performs humanist celebrancy services, such as nonreligious weddings, funerals, child namings, coming of age ceremonies and other rituals. Tv personality carol smillie has joined the humanist society as its newest celebrant licensed to conduct funerals and naming ceremonies. Ceremonies conducted by a humanist society scotland registered celebrant. As far as i can tell, to participate you will need to download and run the zoom software, where you will asked for meeting details including, a password. For a humanist society scotland registered celebrant to conduct your special and personal ceremony, we have previously had registered celebrant rebecca robinson conduct wedding ceremonies at the castle. Humanist society scotland is a scottish charity, no sco26570, and a scottish company limited by guarantee, no sc4697. The most tangible way of supporting our work is by joining the humanist chaplaincy. The requirements for naming ceremonies vary greatly.
Potter was a minister from the unitarian tradition and in 1930 he and his wife, clara cook potter, published humanism. We provide a range of nonreligious ceremonies and campaign for a secular state. Humanist marriages are currently legally recognised in scotland and northern ireland, but not england and wales. Legalities humanist weddings are legal in scotland provided they are conducted by a celebrant registered with the humanist society of scotland. Humanist society scotland ceremonies, edinburgh, united kingdom. Sometimes, they prefer to meet mary before they actually book their celebrant. Jan 22, 2020 every couple who gets married in scotland must pay. Ceremonies are conducted by celebrants trained by humanist society scotland. Kathryn ross, humanist celebrant, scotland humanist. Legal recognition has had a transformative effect on scottish and irish society. Humanist society scotland is looking for an experienced finance officer to join their small team in central edinburgh.
Humanist society scotland launches legal bid to give. All of our hss registered celebrants are trained an insured. The successful candidate will play a key role in the financial processes of scotlands national charity for people seeking an ethical, rational and secular future. Brilliantly helpful insightful and witty ditte dunn. Humanist society scotland, playfair house, 6 broughton street lane, edinburgh, eh1 3ly. Each ceremony is unique, appropriate, and personal. If im not from scotland do i have to register my wedding again back home. Humanist weddings overtake kirk ceremonies for the first time. Humanist weddings overtake kirk ceremonies for the first. Humanist ceremonies is a network of humanist celebrants trained and accredited by humanists uk.
The humanist society of scotland was formed in 1989 out of an association of local humanist groups around scotland, the society s objective is to represent the views of people in scotland who wish to lead good and worthwhile lives guided by reason and compassion rather than religion or superstition, and to provide a distinct scottish voice in. Humanist society scotland celebrate the one life we have. Humanist society scotland is the national charity providing professional, unique and meaningful. Sep 12, 2016 the scottish governments decision not to allow older pupils to opt themselves out of religious observance is facing a legal challenge. Independent humanist ceremonies utilise the talents of a diverse team of celebrants dedicated to delivering personalised, thoughtful and unique ceremonies of all kinds throughout scotland. Its offered central message of the golden rule predates religion via greek and chinese philosophy and stands as a global philosophical life view. A humanist celebrant or humanist officiant is a person who performs humanist celebrancy. Carol smilie is humanist societys newest celebrant.
All ceremonies conducted by the humanist association scotland are dignified, meaningful, personal and uplifting our celebrants are authorised by the general registrar for scotland to conduct legal marriages anywhere in scotland our funeral ceremonies are a truly fitting way to celebrate a loved ones life and our naming ceremonies are a joyful way to celebrate and welcome a new member. Whether you need a humanist wedding ceremony, civil partnership, baby naming or funeral service, we prepare and deliver a personal, professional and thoughtful ceremony in the way you want. In 1929, charles francis potter founded the first humanist society of new york whose advisory board included julian huxley, john dewey, albert einstein and thomas mann. Membership of humanist society scotland gives you access to the members area of our website, lets you keep up to date with all our campaigns and good work, and helps us make the world a fairer place. This includes the fee for your celebrant and two years membership of our charity. For celebrants in scotland you can use the humanist society scotlands online celebrant finding service. Living in glasgow, beautiful ayrshire, loch lomond and rural lanarkshire are on my doorstep but im happy to travel further afield if requested. I am happy to offer an informal noobligation consultation, this could be on the phone, or you might wish to meet and chat over coffee and ask some questions to see if a humanist ceremony is the best option for youand i am the right celebrant for you. So many people live a life believing in a god that doesnt exist. So, when you book your wedding with me or one of my humanist society scotland colleagues, you are contributing to change, to making a difference and making other human lives better.
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my site and for your interest in humanist ceremonies in scotland. Fees are variable, depending upon the content of the planned ceremonies. We provide nonreligious services and represent the views of those who wish to. Read this interview with one of scotlands loveliest humanist celebrants mary wallace. Jul 10, 2019 legal recognition has had a transformative effect on scottish and irish society. We have grown from that small gathering to a scotland wide, national society that lobbies on issues of religion and the state in scotland. Some humanist celebrants are accredited by humanist organisations, such as humanists uk, humanist society scotland hss, and the humanist association of canada hac. Any expenses such as travel costs and rehearsal fees should be agreed directly with your celebrant. In scotland, these ceremonies are offered by humanist society scotland. The case for secularism ebook the case for secularism.
The number of church of scotland weddings has more than halved in a decade with humanist nuptials now more popular for the first time. The american humanist association advocates progressive values and equality for humanists, atheists, freethinkers, and. I am very happy to discuss ceremonies further afield and those carried out abroad. Humanist weddings have been legally recognised in northern ireland since 2018 and in jersey in the channel islands since 2019. The scottish governments decision not to allow older pupils to opt themselves out of religious observance is facing a legal challenge. In order to confirm your booking, you join humanist society scotland.
Reviews for peter macdonald humanist celebrant in larbert, scotland they travel all over. Humanists uk, known from 1967 until may 2017 as the british humanist association bha, is a charitable organisation which promotes secular humanism and aims to represent people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs in the united kingdom by campaigning on issues relating to humanism, secularism, and human rights. Wedding ceremony exclusive use barcaldine castle, scotland. Distance learning certificate in family celebrancy. Humanist society scotland ceremonies home facebook. Due to the current restrictions in place concerning public meetings, we are experimenting with a virtual coffee klatsch, via a zoom meeting. Hi, we had a humanist ceremony when we got married recently. Humanist society scotland, edinburgh, united kingdom. When you book a humanist society scotland celebrant, its not just someone to read a script on the day. I am a registered celebrant with the humanist society scotland, conducting weddings, vow renewal ceremonies and funerals throughout the central belt of scotland. Humanist ceremonies is part of humanists uk 39 moreland street, london, ec1v 8bb. The scottish secular society formed as a campaign organisation in 20, by a group of local parents.
On 14th february 2017, humanist society scotland was granted prescribed status by the scottish government, meaning that humanist society scotland celebrants are permanently authorised to conduct legal marriages all other nonreligious celebrants need to apply for authorisation on either. Humanist association scotland legal marriages, funeral. We are the national charity for humanists in scotland. I am a registered celebrant with the humanist society scotland, living in dumbarton, conveniently placed for glasgow, loch lomond and the west coast but ill. An initial meeting with you to find out some background information about you as a couple how you met, your relationship and hopes for the future. In 2005 the kirk led more than 8,860 ceremonies, marrying. In fact, did you know that a recent survey by the scottish wedding directory found. With the added bonus as you are in scotland you can get married anywhere, we are having one next week. Some humanist celebrants are accredited by humanist organisations, such as humanists uk, humanist society scotland hss, and the humanist. After years of campaigning, the humanist society scotland is very proud and happy to be able to conduct legal weddings for gay and lesbian couples at last. We do not have national prices as each ceremony is different. It is edited by professor richard norman, emeritus professor of moral philosophy at the university of kent. Im using a guy called peter macdonald and hes really nice. The american humanist association advocates progressive values and equality for humanists, atheists, freethinkers, and the nonreligious across the country.
This course combines both the family and funeral celebrancy courses. Our fees are set by the humanist society scotland hss by the way rather. The edinburgh humanist society scotland meetup group. In scotland, humanist weddings gained legal recognition in 2005. Scottish humanists believe that this is the only life we have and that we should make the best of it for ourselves and others. She charges the usual humanist society scotland fee for weddings of. Aug 17, 2016 the number of church of scotland weddings has more than halved in a decade with humanist nuptials now more popular for the first time. They are also covered by full public liability and professional indemnity insurance.
All of our celebrants are fully trained to meet both the standards of independent humanist ceremonies and those of the general registrar for scotland in the case of weddings. Find out how much a humanist wedding funeral or naming ceremony will cost in scotland. The course will comprehensively cover all aspects of family celebrancy. For me, engaging with humanism in scotland is like many, just an extension of my natural beliefs and it confirms my responsibility to reach out and help my community wherever i can.
The first humanist wedding took place in kenya recently, the celebrant expertly overseen by our own gary smith in monifieth. Humanists legal challenge to school religious observance. Humanist society scotland seeks to represent the views of people in scotland who wish to lead ethical and fulfilling lives guided by reason, empathy and compassion. Jul 23, 2012 so many people live a life believing in a god that doesnt exist. We have grown from that small gathering to a scotlandwide, national society that lobbies on issues of religion and the state in scotland. There is a large gulf between a priority emphasis on provision of humanist ceremonies and the big picture that is humanism. Models shown in photographs are for illustrative purposes only and are not members of the humanist association of ireland. I hope that this site provides all of the answers that you need, whether you are considering a humanist ceremony or are just curious to find out more about humanism in general. In scotland, humanist marriages gained legal recognition in 2005, and have risen in number from 85 in the first year to almost 7,000 in 2017 some 20% of the total, meaning humanist society scotland now provides more marriage ceremonies than any other religion. We offer humanist naming, wedding or partnership, and funeral and memorial ceremonies for nonreligious people. Elsewhere, couples having a humanist ceremony must also have a separate civil marriage. Our ceremonies have legal parity with any other in scotland, meaning that if we marry couples from other parts of the uk or from abroad they are still married when they return home. If you have a preference, then we will endeavor to get your preferred celebrant if they are available. I am a humanist, and my husband is an atheist, we did consider a registry office wedding but i think my husband was more keen on a humanist ceremony, plus i think it worked out a bit cheaper too, that all depends on days and place youre getting married etc.
Humanist celebrants provide the opportunity for a couple to create their very own personal marriage ceremony your expression of love in your words. Peter macdonald humanist celebrant in larbert, scotland. The humanist society of scotland was formed in 1989 out of an association of local humanist groups around scotland, the society s objective is to represent the views of people in scotland who wish to lead good and worthwhile lives guided by reason and compassion rather than religion or superstition, and to provide a distinct scottish voice in complement to the british. Claire the humanist claire digance, humanist society scotland. Humanist society scotland seeks to represent the views of people in scotland who wish to lead ethical and fulfilling lives guided by reason, empathy and comp. Apr 22, 2018 humanist society scotland ceremonies, edinburgh, united kingdom. Lynn maria obrien humanist celebrant costs and fees. A humanist believes in a fair and just society where individuals can share in the endeavours, benefits and shared values of organisations set up for the common good, e. The broadcaster said she it was a privilege to be involved. Fees our celebrants are accredited members of the humanist ceremonies network, which means they were trained by us, and this ensures their quality and guarantees high standards. The humanist society scotlands status as a one of a number of trusted providers of humanist.