Divine Ceremony - Undertaker and Funeral Partner

09/10/2025

We recently took advantage of the lovely weather to show off our funeral fleet. We're really proud of our all-electric Nissan Leaf hearse and support car, both of which were gleaming after a visit from our friends at Whip-It. It's great to support a local car cleaning service who help us keep our vehicles looking their best.

We believe fundamentally in choice, and understand that not everyone would go for this different look, so we can of course arrange traditional hearses and indeed other more alternative transport too. It's about exploring options and choosing what feels right.

03/10/2025

We look forward to welcoming new and returning Death Cafe friends next Thursday, 9th October. Doors will open from 6.45 and cake and drinks will be available.

If you're intrigued by the concept of a death cafe, here are some details to help you understand a bit more about what they are and why you may choose to come.

☕ What is a death cafe?
Death Cafes are a global movement offering space and time for conversations about death, dying, grief, and inevitably also life and living. In a society that often uses euphemisms and shies away from talking about death, a death cafe offers people the opportunity to share experiences, ask questions, listen to others and say what we may not feel comfortable saying elsewhere. There is no agenda and there are no set topics, conversation flows and themes are developed from what people bring to the discussion.
🔎 What isn't it?
A death cafe isn’t a grief support group. Many of us live with loss and we all will experience grief and loss in our lives. People are of course welcome to share their experiences if they would like. Those hosting the death cafe will be happy to signpost grief support resources that are available.

🫂 Do I have to have experienced the death of someone close to me to attend?
No. Death and grief is a universal experience that affects us all. Death Cafes are open to anyone to attend and all are welcome.

⏱ Do I have to be a certain age to attend?
Due to the topics that may arise, a death cafe is suitable for those over 18.

🌎 Can I attend death cafes in different locations?
Yes of course. Death Cafe tourism is a thing! There are lots of cafes all over the country (and the world) and it’s nice to try out different ones as each has its own vibe and set up.

🍰 Do I have to pay?
A Death Cafe is free to attend. Drinks and delicious cake are available.

📆 Do I have to book in advance?
No. You can just turn up, there is no need to book or register in advance.

26/09/2025

Beyond the Eulogy - a recent workshop held at The Sanctuary - brought together celebrants and interfaith ministers for a powerful day of reflection, connection, and learning.

Facilitated by funeral directors Rosalind and Dee, attendees explored the deeper meaning of ceremony and the vital role celebrants play in holding space, guiding ritual, and creating meaningful experiences for others.

Through thoughtful discussion and hands-on exploration, participants left with practical tools to support their work and deepen their impact in the communities they serve.

Ceremony is at the heart of everything we do (as our name suggests) and sharing our experience with others working in the funeral space is something we value deeply.

16/09/2025

It was a pleasure to be Crematorium for their open day where we chatted all things coffins, flowers, music, funeral planning and ceremony. Thank you to those who placed flowers around the coffin and who came to find out more about how we work.

12/09/2025

We're delighted to be taking part in the open day at Westerleigh Crematorium tomorrow, Saturday 13th September.
It's a lovely opportunity to visit the crematorium and its grounds and learn more about funerals and memorials.
Rosalind and Lisa from our team will be on hand to answer questions about Divine Ceremony and how we support families before and after somebody has died.

This Saturday, Westerleigh Crematorium will be opening its doors from 10am – 2pm for our Open Day.

Come along for a chance to see behind the scenes, meet our team, and ask the questions you’ve always wanted to ask. Everyone is welcome, we look forward to seeing you there!

02/09/2025

📆 🌟🌟We have a limited number of places still available - do get in touch if you would like to attend. 🌟🌟

To coincide with World Peace Day, the Divine Ceremony Team invites Celebrants and Interfaith Ministers to come together for an explorative and thought-provoking workshop on what we can do to go beyond the ‘funeral formula’ of eulogies, tributes and readings and who we as celebrants need to be to make this happen.

We will explore how, through our shared experience of funeral ceremony, ritual and held space, our presence can connect people, evoke and awaken their emotions and feelings and inspire lasting actions and gestures.

Facilitated by experienced, award-winning celebrants Dee Ryding and Rosalind Love, this interactive session will offer both practical tools and reflective space to expand your craft.

This workshop is open to qualified celebrants actively working in the Bristol area, with a passion for deepening their ceremony practice.

To register your interest please email info@divineceremony.co.uk

28/07/2025

*Trumpety Sound !
Our revamped website has gone live**
We are so proud of the new look, including all new pricing, and a focus on 3 three different approaches so you can plan a funeral that best suits your needs within a price range that you feel comfortable with. Check out the new look "Inside the Sanctuary".

** Fabulous job curated by Jo Foster at The Wide Blue agency.

We are Bristol funeral directors, whose aim is to support and empower families, friends and individuals to celebrate life, at the end of life, in whatever way they choose.

14/07/2025

🗓Professional Celebrants in the Bristol Area ** SAVE THE DATE**

🖋Beyond ‘the eulogy’ - ceremony and ritual to connect, evoke, awaken and inspire

Workshop to be held Sunday 21 September 2025, 10:00 - 16:00 at The Sanctuary, 2 Zetland Road, BS6 7AE

To coincide with World Peace Day, the Divine Ceremony Team invites Celebrants and Interfaith Ministers to come together for an explorative and stretching workshop on what we can do to go beyond the ‘funeral formula’ of eulogies, tributes and readings and who we need to be to make this happen.

We will also explore how, through our shared experience of funeral ceremony, ritual and held space, our presence can connect people; evoke and awaken their emotions and feelings and inspire lasting actions and gestures.

The workshop will be facilitated by experienced, award-winning Celebrants and Divine Ceremony Team Members, Dee Ryding and Rosalind Love.

This workshop is open to qualified celebrants who regularly work in the Bristol area and have an interest in developing their skills and practice. Please register your interest at info@divineceremony.co.uk and we will share further details including workshop cost during August.

07/07/2025

A Death Cafe is a comfortable and supportive space to talk and ask questions about death, dying and life and the living. People often leave feel uplifted and lighter, as there is no such thing as a silly question and we gather to listen and share.

If you've never been before but have wanted to come, do come along and see what you think. Everyone is welcome and there will be drinks and yummy cake to greet you.

Thursday, 10th July, 7 - 9pm, Divine Ceremony, 2 Zetland Road, Bristol, BS6 7AE

20/06/2025

We'd like to celebrate our wonderful extended team of women and men who support us during funerals, be that bearing a coffin into a crematorium or wheeling a bier down to a natural burial plot. Families can choose to bear in the coffin themselves which can be a really beautiful thing to do, however this may not be suitable for everyone. We pride ourselves in being flexible and 'can-do' and aim to help families create individual and meaningful funerals that is right for them and the person who has died.

19/06/2025

Direct cremations - a cremation where no one is in attendance and there is no funeral ceremony - are growing in popularity, for a number of reasons. Some people choose this route and arrange a memorial or celebration of life later on.

There is little research in this area and The Good Funeral Guide CIC is trying to find out what people know and feel about direct cremations and what their experiences have been.

Local, independent funeral directors offer direct cremations, maintaining levels of care for the person who has died and communication with the family that they would provide for any type of funeral.

All feedback is welcomed and all responses are anonymous. If you would like to take part in this short questionnaire, please follow this link.

Direct cremation is growing in popularity in the UK, and the Good Funeral Guide CIC is keen to learn more as the funeral and bereavement landscape changes. There is very little research in this area, and we really want to understand more about any impact, positive or negative, that direct cremation....

14/06/2025

Looking forward to a full programme of events today - ‘Death & Funeral Ritual for the Modern World: co-creation, participation, exploration’. Thanks to Rosie and Lisa