Somerset draws many people (me included) to move here. A lot of those who move here are drawn to the alternative, spiritual and nature aspects of the beautiful towns. One of those places, is Glastonbury.In Glastonbury, doing things the usual way has never really been the point. It’s a place shaped by individuality, spirituality, creativity, and choosing your own path. That same mindset is starting to shape how people think about funerals. Requests for alternative funerals in Somerset have increased, with less people choosing traditional church funerals.
Alternative Funerals in Somerset
Traditional funerals follow a fixed pattern; in a crematorium or church, with a short service, a few hymns, and a quiet gathering afterwards. Passages from the Bible are heard with sometimes little personalisation included. Alternative funerals are personal, with many mentions of the person who has died, and their life is celebrated and remembered. Here, in this town it is understood that nothing must follow the norm, and that includes how we say goodbye. Alternative funerals in Somerset are unique to those they are about.
As a funeral celebrant, funeral planner and a freelance funeral director in Somerset, I’m seeing more people step away from tradition and choosing a celebration of life which reflects who they were with something personal and meaningful.
That is where alternative funerals come in, creating a farewell that feels right, whether that’s rooted in nature, shaped by spiritual beliefs, or influenced by a particular lifestyle or identity. What matters is that it fits.
Pagan Funerals in Glastonbury
Paganism is a spiritual practice with differing beliefs dependant on which branch of the Pagan tree Pagans follow. Pagans are followers of nature and nature is important in Pagan beliefs. Here in Glastonbury, there are many Pagans and ceremonies I have created and led have been for those who have followed Wicca, Norse, Celtic and Druid influenced beliefs.
All have their own traditions, symbols, and way of marking death. ceremonies will look the same. What they do tend to share is a strong sense of connection, both to something greater and to those who have gone before.
In many Pagan funerals, there is a moment of acknowledgement or invitation. This might involve calling on deities or simply recognising the presence of something beyond the immediate, depending on the beliefs of the person. It isn’t about rigid ritual, it’s about intention.
Often there will be a clear recognition of ancestors. The person who has died isn’t seen as disappearing, but as joining a wider lineage. The ceremony may include words or actions that formally welcome them into that space, placing them among those who came before.
The tone of the funeral is less about a single ending, and more about continuation, of connection, of memory, and of place within something larger. We are part of nature, and we return to it.
These ceremonies, or at least part of them, will often take place outdoors. The setting becomes part of the ceremony. The elements play a part, earth, fire, water and air. Earth represents the physical body, the life lived, and the idea of returning to the ground. Fire represents release and transformation, what happens next, rather than what has ended. Water represents reflection and flow. Air can symbolise presence and letting go, a sense of release rather than holding on. This is especially meaningful during an ash release ceremony, where the act itself reflects that quiet transition.
The tone and feel at these funerals is calm and accepting rather than heavy or sombre. There’s an understanding of cycles, life, death, and renewal, which shapes everything.
Nature Inspired Funerals in Somerset
Simplicity and natural space are key elements to nature inspired funerals. Some people just want things to be simple, and to not follow a pattern. Nature inspired funerals focus on stripping things back. Less structure, fewer formalities, more space to breathe, and will be held outdoors.
If there is a coffin (some people prefer alternatives such as cotton wrappings or felt pods) it will be made of natural materials, willow, wool, bamboo, or banana leaf. Some of these natural materials can be sourced locally.
These ceremonies have minimal structure, allowing those attending plenty of time for personal thoughts, to participate, and for things to unfold rather than a strict script. The lack of time constraint allows each ceremony to evolve naturally before reaching its conclusion where the body of the person who has died is received by the earth. The circle of life, returning the body to nature where it can nourish the earth, is at the forefront of the funeral requirements.
Somerset is also rural and those who die in farming communities, choose alternative funeral transport such as a tractor to rather than a hearse.
Goth Funerals in Glastonbury
Goth funerals are personal, expressive, celebratory and in acknowledgement that a member of the goth subculture and community has died. Visual and paying homage to the aesthetic of the Victorian funeral, they are dark and sombre for appearance’s sake, but in reality, they are deeply personal, meaningful, expressive and inclusive to those present.
Goth is a subculture rooted in self-expression, not in following what others do, look like, or listen to. Goth funerals are black as black is a the most prominent and associated funeral colour. Goth live in black so they will go out with black being featured.
Music is another important aspect of goth, and if someone lived their life with a strong sense of individuality through their music, their style and their creativity, why would their funeral not recognise and reflect that?
At a goth funeral the clothing won’t be traditional or formal, instead it will reflect the individuality of each guest attending. There may be poetry, literature, or readings popularised in the subculture. The goth funerals I have been involved with have been filled with love, admiration and grief for the person who has died.
Alternative Funeral Venues
Traditionally funerals took place in a church or in a crematorium. While those still have their place, many families I work with are choosing alternative funeral venues that feel more fitting to celebrate the life of a person who has died.
These can include your garden, or a private piece of land or in a venue that reflects the persons interests, such as a favoured pub, music venue or natural space. Some choose to hold an alternative funeral in a marquee or tent in a field. Using a tent or marquee gives you structure and shelter, while still allowing you to be outdoors. You can dress the space however you like, including personal belongings of the person who has died.
It is a less formal environment, encouraging attendees time to gather, talk, and support each other. Being together in a familiar place, rather than in a formal, unfamiliar and sombre place can be beneficial to those grieving.
Alternative Funerals Give Choice
Alternative funerals are life centred funerals; they are about individuality, not tradition. Alternative funerals are becoming the most requested funerals. There are many people with religious beliefs, and people who haven’t much say in their own funeral arrangements due to family expectation.
Here in Glastonbury, people are starting to question the standard approach and ask a simple question; does this feel right? If the answer is no, there are other ways. And in the end, what matters most is that it feels right, for the person, and for those saying goodbye.
If you’re considering a more personal or alternative funeral in Glastonbury or in surrounding areas in Somerset, having someone to guide and advise you on what is available to you, is a starting point. As a celebrant, funeral planner and freelance funeral director, I work with individuals and families in Glastonbury and throughout Somerset to create ceremonies that truly reflect the person and the lifestyle and beliefs they had.
If you’d like to explore what that could look like, contact me to arrange a call.