Meet a celebrant - Chris Pope

If one of our families opts for a funeral service away from a religious building – typically in a local cemetery, crematorium or other space – then they will often decide to use a celebrant to lead the proceedings. Here at Tester & Jones, we are proud to offer families a wide selection of local celebrants.

Sometimes we might suggest one we think might be appropriate – perhaps they have a similar cultural background, speak another language or might share a similar outlook or hobby. Alternatively, we have a file of different celebrants for families to look through.

We enjoy discovering new celebrants in our area and recently met Chris Pope, a professional celebrant who lives near Groombridge.

Chris is already a well-known face in our area, as he can often be found supporting local music – either on stage with his guitar performing original compositions – or behind a camera, capturing bands, singers and theatre productions. He and his wife, Helen, are also established papercut artists, and can be found at local craft fairs selling their unique work or exhibiting in spaces, such as Trinity Theatre. To relax, he likes cycling, enjoying a beer – preferably on a sunny beach – or sharing the sofa with not only Helen but some of their gorgeous cats.

Professionally, Chris has a background spanning church ministry, creative communications, public speaking, journalism and community work. This combination of skills means he is well placed to listen and shape someone’s unique story.

For Chris, it was the passing of his own father that led him to dealing for the first time with an independent celebrant.

“It brought home the value that a genuinely caring and skilled professional can bring in such difficult times,” Chris explains. “The ceremony they crafted and delivered left everyone feeling that my dad was very much present with us in the most precious of ways. It was also the inspiration for my own journey to train as an independent, professional celebrant.”

Chris is available to support families with funerals, ashes scattering, memorials, living ceremonies and, as an animal lover, even pets.

“I use my unique blend of skills and experience to help you draw out the key elements of your loved one’s unique life story,” Chris explains. “I can help you with choosing any songs, poetry, prose or prayers that might form part of the service. The service might reflect the religious faith or spirituality of your loved one, or it might contain no reference to either.”

He adds: “Having met the team at Tester & Jones, I was impressed by their 20 years’ supporting families locally and could see how compassionate, professional and dedicated they are. It will be a privilege to work alongside them as we honour someone’s life.”