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Naming and ceremonies

by Kate Calvert

continued from page 5
Local authority ceremonies
At the time of going to press, a scheme is being piloted in England that will lead to local authorities offering civil naming ceremonies, in the same way that they offer civil weddings. Brent, Barnet, Bromley and Kingston are among the London authorities in the trial scheme. Currently, the ceremony does not have any legal status, and does not need to be attended by a registrar, although this may change if the scheme is adopted nationwide. The standard ceremony script can be added to or embellished by the parents, and the ceremony can take place in a number of specified venues.

Reading
The Dead Good Book of Baby Naming Ceremonies - Jonathan How (Engineers of Imagination; 1999; £7.50; 0-952715-92-9) - How to design and organise your own ceremony. / Edge of Time Ltd - (07000) 780536.Rites and Ceremonies - Kate Gordon (Constable; 1998; £6.99; 0094787808) - Suggested forms of words, readings and wordings for ceremonies; compares the approaches of different religions (including Celtic and pagan ones).

Useful contacts

Baby Naming Society, (01905) 371070. This charity (founded in 1994) helps those parents who do not wish for a religious naming or blessing to produce a pledge of continuing support for their children. The society produces a guide with a 'pick and mix' menu to help parents formulate a formal or informal event. (The society recommends more formality for larger events, where there is a danger that a sense of disorganisation may make those present feel uncomfortable.) The price of the guide (currently #30) includes a tailor-made programme for guests, a certificate for the parents and sponsors to sign and the ceremony script. The society worked with the Home Office in planning the script for the local authority naming ceremony scheme. Hours - Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, or answerphone.

The British Humanist Association, (020) 7430 0908 www.humanism.org.uk. Founded in the 1960s (by organisations dating back to the 1890s), this registered charity is the largest British humanist organisation, and the co-founder of the European Humanist Federation. The organisation champions the rights and beliefs of the non-religious community, promotes secular education and produces humanist literature. A 36-page booklet, New Arrivals (£4 including p&p) contains ideas of prose, poetry readings and music to use at a non-religious baby naming ceremony. The association can provide a celebrant to conduct the ceremony. The fee is negotiable but might be around £80. Celebrants are usually between 40 and 70 years old and there are marginally more women than men. Hours - Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm.

General Assembly of Unitarian & Free Christian Churches, (020) 7240 2384 www.unitarian.org.uk. Although they are part of the Christian tradition, ministers aim to help create a service that reflects the values and hopes of the people involved and are normally happy to incorporate elements from different faiths or to do something entirely new; often services are in the location of the parents' choice. Contact the Assembly for details of a local minister, or the telephone directory should list ministers, under 'Unitarian'. Fees are around £30 and generally include a consultation.

The Humanist Centre, (020) 7430 0908. The main humanist organisations in the UK share offices at this London centre: contact then to receive details about all the organisations, from the International Humanist & Ethical Society to the Gay & Lesbian Humanist Association, many of whom will be able to offer advice about secular naming ceremonies.

LifeRites, (01994) 484527, www.liferites.org. This non-profit organisation can provide celebrants for any type of ceremony; individual spiritual beliefs are respected without judgement; cost £85 including booking fee, plus travel expenses; fee includes a planning meeting to draft and discuss the ceremony.

Welfare State International, (01229) 581127, www.welfare-state.org. "Engineers of the imagination" is how this firm describes itself. Publishers of the Dead Good Guide to Namings and Baby Welcoming Ceremonies, it also runs courses on how to run your own celebration. It will even help create tailor-made ceremonies including food, music, ceremonial objects and "enhancing the chosen site". Phone advice is backed up by the book. Prices for a ceremony in London would start from around £200. / HOURS Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, 24hr answerphone; publications The Dead Good Guide to Namings & Baby Welcoming Ceremonies (£7.50 +p&p); plus similar books on other ceremonies.