Kate Barker - Civil Funeral Celebrant

01/08/2025

As it's Yorkshire Day, I decided to treat myself. Thank you to Tiger Lily Floral Art for putting together this beauty!!

27/07/2025

Leading funerals means I do have to dress smartly but conservatively. This weekend my husband and I were invited to a Sikh wedding. Well, you have to rise to the occasion, don't you??! What an amazing experience. And I get to add a bit of sparkle to my attire!

10/07/2025

This definitely isn't available in Leeds but my dad would have requested this, for sure (or should that be 'for shore'.... sorry!) I'd happily have this myself though. Anyone else??

20/06/2025

The following are the words of the actor Mark Rylance when asked how grief has affected him and how does he “recharge his batteries”.

“I feel hollowed out by loss but I don’t feel the need to refill that hollow place. Initially, there is a temptation to drink too much or smoke too much or work too much to try to fill the space with something else. But then you realise that empty spaces can be good. Miles Davis’s trumpet, Jaqueline du Pre’s cello would be nothing without the emptiness inside, carefully carved out by someone.

And, eventually, you realise that emptiness is something you feel comfortable with. This person I adored is gone and now there is a space there – but, in a way, they also live alongside me in spirit. And, if you try to fill that space they left, it won’t work and the effort will wear you out. Better to think of it as a beautiful thing. Again, I think of artists like Miles Davis and John Coltrane, how the air moves through those hollow spaces and makes beautiful music.”

17/04/2025

I love this time of year. Whilst not a gardener by any stretch of the imagination, it's hard not to feel uplifted by the arrival of snowdrops, daffodils, tulips, bluebells and (my favourite) wild garlic. However, a special place is held in my heart for this stunner of a tree at Cottingley Crematorium. The blossom never lasts long so I was very pleased to see it today in all its glory.

14/04/2025

I'm always grateful when clients contact the IoCF to provide feedback on the ceremonies I deliver. This was received a few days ago.

"Kate was superb. She talked me through the content of the service and added good suggestions to make it very personal to my husband. She took my information and turned it into a service that had the right tone. Amendments were dealt with without fuss. Everyone commented that it was a lovely service, professionally delivered with empathy. Thanks Kate."

07/04/2025

Westerleigh Group is proposing a brand new crematorium and natural burial ground in the Oulton area of Leeds. They are currently running consultations on the project - with both the public and those within the profession. I headed along a little earlier this afternoon to introduce myself and learn of their proposals and business ethos. I came away very impressed. The crematorium will be modern and airy with state of the art media technology, they will offer hour long slots with no charges for overrunning, parking will be ample and easy to get into and out of. This - in my professional opinion - is much needed especially since Lawnswood's cremators have been out of action since last November. If you're interested, please have a gander at the attached link.

Westerleigh Group is one of the UK’s leading independent owners and operators of crematoria and cemeteries, currently operating forty-one crematoria and a number of cemeteries and burial grounds throughout the UK.

26/02/2025

As always, I'm so pleased to receive such glowing feedback.

“We were incredibly fortunate to have Kate as our celebrant for my mum’s funeral and we cannot recommend her highly enough.

From our very first meeting, she showed professionalism, warmth, and genuine care, making what was a difficult time feel a little easier.

Kate went above and beyond in every way—listening to our stories, crafting a beautiful and heartfelt ceremony, and delivering it with the perfect balance of dignity and warmth. Her compassion shone through, ensuring that the service truly reflected my mum’s life and the love we all had for her.

Her attention to detail was remarkable, and the thoughtful touch of providing a beautifully presented copy of the ceremony afterwards meant so much to us. We will always be grateful for her kindness and dedication. If you are looking for a celebrant who is professional, compassionate, and exceptional at what she does, we wholeheartedly recommend Kate Barker.”

20/02/2025

Some more lovely feedback received from a recent client.

“Kate made us feel very comfortable talking about my dad. I asked for someone who didn’t talk to me in a fake sounding, overly sombre “so sorry for your loss” type voice. Kate was exactly what I needed. She obviously showed her empathy for our feelings but helped us talk about dad’s life in a manner that made it easier to remember him in the way that he should be remembered.

She conducted the service using just the right tone. Although we were sad, there were lots of fun memories of my dad. Overall, Kate was the perfect celebrant for us. I would like to thank her for making a difficult time a lot easier.”

17/02/2025

Feedback from families is so important to me and I'm always grateful when clients take the time to send their comments either to me or via the Institute of Civil Funerals (IoCF). This was received earlier this afternoon:

"Kate was very friendly and professional. She took time to get to know us and gather information about my mother's life. She provided a first class service - from her initial contact, her visit to our home and in the delivery of the service. All in attendance commented that it was perfect and very fitting of my mother's life and personality. Kate helped us through a very difficult time with her calm and kind manner".

30/01/2025

I led a ceremony today for a man who loved his allotment. With his family's permission, I'm sharing the 'floral' display which adorned his coffin. The smell was divine!!!

22/01/2025

One of my regular FDs contacted me to say a previous client had left a gift for me. Although it is now coming up to three years since I led the funeral for his wife, I'm genuinely so touched to have been remembered after so long. It's so nice to be reminded that what I do can make a real impact. I love my job.