Rites of Passage

Naming Ceremonies, Weddings, and Funerals

A Naming Ceremony at Bridport Chapel
“Every night a child is born is a holy night”

Life events are important to us all. Marking a life event in a Unitarian space means that it is especially created to meet your needs and beliefs – we don’t have a one-service-fits-all approach. We will actively listen to what you want, so whether you are welcoming a baby into the world, getting married, or saying a final goodbye to a loved one, together we will bring your occasion to life in a unique way.

Naming Ceremonies are a delightful way of welcoming a new child into the world, and ours do not bind a child to any given faith. We believe that children should find their own spiritual path through life as they grow. 

All our marriage ceremonies have no set religious language, only that which is required by secular law, and our ministers will also conduct mixed faith marriages. Unitarians have a long history of campaigning for equal rights for gay people, and we are proud to conduct marriage ceremonies for all couples. We were among the first churches to offer same-sex marriages. We will also carry out blessings on civil marriage ceremonies.

The loss of a loved one is a difficult transition, and we regard a funeral as an opportunity for both the celebration of a person’s life and the expression of our own sadness. We are willing to reflect the beliefs of the individual, or to conduct a humanist ceremony.

To find a Unitarian Community in the South West for your Rite of Passage, see the “Our Communities” page where they are marked with an asterisk.