A.W. Lymn launches ‘regulated’ celebrant list

East Midlands-based funeral directors, A.W. Lymn, has launched its first “regulated” celebrant list to ensure best practice and quality across the business, as well as in response to the changing needs of the communities it serves. 

This means that all of A.W. Lymn’s celebrants are required to be trained, DBS checked and show proof of the quality of service they deliver to the bereaved before they can be added to its approved celebrant record. 

A.W. Lymn has put the new initiative in place to guarantee that it is using the “very best, most experienced, and highest-qualified” celebrants. 

Richard Marshall, senior civil celebrant at A.W. Lymn, said: “Previously, it has been standard for a funeral service to be led by a member of the clergy. But we’re seeing that opting for a celebrant is becoming an increasingly popular choice, as fewer people go to church. Civil celebrants have filled a gap, offering a more tailored and personalised experience for families.

“But due to a lack of regulation, there could be a real range in the quality of celebrants and with more people than ever choosing the option, it’s increasingly important that we can guarantee to families which opt for a celebrant that they meet the same quality and level of excellence we strive for every day.”

The list has been widely welcomed by the civil celebrant community, according to A.W. Lymn, with many seeing the scheme as the first step towards official industry regulation.

Matthew Lymn Rose, managing director of A.W. Lymn, added: “We’re committed to ensuring that we only recommend and use the best external services too, which is why we have invested our time in compiling a thoroughly checked list of approved celebrants for our funerals going forward.

“The list is not set in stone, but rather dynamic and will be regularly updated as more celebrants fulfil our requirements. If a family wishes to use a celebrant who is not on our list, we will always accommodate their choice.”