In our ‘Meet the Mentor’ series, we’re delighted to introduce Sarah Wickham, one of the Academy of Modern Celebrancy’s most passionate funeral celebrant mentors. In the rolling hills of Pembrokeshire, where the Preseli Mountains paint a breathtaking backdrop, Sarah has created something truly special. As both an experienced funeral celebrant and custodian of Pembrokeshire Natural Burial Ground, she brings a unique perspective to our mentor team, embodying the perfect blend of compassionate celebrancy and environmental stewardship.
From Chapel Assistant to Celebrant & Mentor
Sarah’s journey into celebrancy began 13 years ago, but her connection to the funeral industry started much earlier as a chapel attendant at a crematorium. “I was the one who was there to pick up any problems, like if their music hadn’t been ordered, or if things hadn’t been done,” Sarah recalls. “Sometimes you saw things go wrong, and you thought, there’s such an easy fix.”
This front-row seat to funeral services gave Sarah unique insights into what families truly needed. “You saw the different types of ceremonies. You saw what fitted people, but you also saw there was room to actually make things better. I wanted it to be better for people.”
That desire to improve families’ experiences during their most difficult moments led Sarah to train as a celebrant. “I just felt that I didn’t have the chance to give them the full help that I could,” she explains. Her decision to pursue celebrant training wasn’t just career advancement—it was a calling to serve families more meaningfully.
The Heart of Funeral Celebrancy
When asked to define what a funeral celebrant does, Sarah’s response captures the essence beautifully: “A funeral celebrant is someone who helps celebrate life, and that’s celebrating life in whatever manner, whether that’s a very simple celebration of life, whether that’s something more intricate. It’s a celebration of life and creating a ceremony that reflects the life of the person that you love.”
As an independent celebrant, Sarah takes pride in crafting ceremonies that truly honour the deceased while supporting the family’s wishes. “Every word is written for you. It’s about you and your loved one. There’s nothing else out there that would ever match, because it’s all unique, it’s all personal.”
This personalised approach means Sarah might include religious elements if that’s what the family wants, but always with transparency. “I will do the Lord’s Prayer, but I will make sure they know I’m not a minister,” she explains. “It’s not based on me or my theology. It’s based on the beliefs and wishes of the family.”
See Sarah’s conversation from the Podcast: What is a Funeral Celebrant
A Natural Vision Comes to Life
Five years ago, Sarah took her passion for both celebrancy and environmental consciousness to the next level by opening Pembrokeshire Natural Burial Ground with her husband and young son Jesse. The decision came from recognising a gap in local provision: “When I moved to Pembrokeshire and realised there weren’t any natural burial grounds down with us, I was quite surprised.”
For someone who had officiated at natural burial grounds in Cardiff and understood their beauty, this absence felt significant. “People come to Pembrokeshire because they love the countryside, because they love being outdoors, because they love the coastal walks, they love nature. When the opportunity arose… I looked at the view across the Preseli Valley mountains, and I just thought, this would be the most beautiful, peaceful, lovely place for a natural burial ground.”
More Than Just a Burial Ground
What Sarah has created extends far beyond a final resting place. “It’s become a real community place, as well as a space for people to say goodbye to their loved ones in beautiful countryside,” she shares. The burial ground welcomes dog walkers, hosts green projects, and invites families back for special tree-planting ceremonies.
The flexibility that defines Sarah’s celebrancy work extends to the burial ground services. “It’s quite nice to have a space where you can gather, whether that’s by the graveside, over on the gathering area… and some will have purpose-built buildings or areas that are built for it.”
This adaptability reflects Sarah’s understanding that every farewell is unique. She’s conducted services ranging from a simple 15-minute gathering where a nature-loving woman’s friends placed flowers from her garden whilst hearing about the wildlife that would visit her resting place, to elaborate celebrations with wakes, toasts, and picnics.
Balancing Family and a Career in Celebrancy
The natural burial ground truly is a family venture. Jesse, Sarah’s son, has been instrumental in shaping the space, helping to build bug hotels and plant native hedgerows. Dan, her husband, supports Sarah in her custodial role, helps maintain the meadow and assists with burials when needed.
Since opening in summer 2020, the transformation has been remarkable. “We have seen an amazing transformation. During this time, we have welcomed new wildflowers and wildlife as we restore and re-establish nature-rich habitats.” The vision extends to creating alder groves, memorial shelters, and continuing the rewilding process whilst remaining “sympathetically farmed.”
Advice for Aspiring Funeral Celebrants
For those considering training as funeral celebrants, Sarah offers practical wisdom born from experience: “If it’s something you want to follow, do it and do your research, but it does take time and patience. Setting up as a celebrant… find a good trainer. Give yourself time to build up. It doesn’t happen overnight.”
She emphasises the importance of building trust gradually: “If you have patience and time, you build that trust. You find out who you are within the industry, do your research, find out about all the different things you can offer, all the choices you’ll have, and you’ll be fine.”
A Celebrant Mentor with a Unique Perspective
Sarah’s dual role as celebrant and burial ground custodian creates a unique perspective on end-of-life choices. Her work demonstrates how environmental consciousness and meaningful ceremony can beautifully intertwine, offering families options that honour both their loved ones and the natural world.
Through her mentoring at AMC, Sarah continues to share this holistic approach, helping new celebrants understand not just the technical aspects of their role, but the deeper purpose of serving families during their most vulnerable moments whilst respecting the choices that reflect their values and beliefs.
As she puts it simply: “It’s about working with what my families want. You know their spiritual beliefs, tying in how they need to say goodbye in whatever way that might be.”
Answer Your Calling to Become a Funeral Celebrant
Sarah’s journey from chapel assistant to celebrated mentor shows that the calling to serve families during their most vulnerable moments can take many forms. If her story resonates with you, if you feel drawn to creating meaningful ceremonies that truly celebrate life, then perhaps you’re ready to explore a career in funeral celebrancy.
Ready to discover if funeral celebrancy could be your calling?
Take our fun quiz to find out if you’d be a good fit for this deeply rewarding profession. The quiz takes just a few minutes and will help you understand whether you have the natural qualities that make exceptional funeral celebrants.
Ready to take the next step?
Explore our comprehensive Funeral Celebrant Training or our Master Celebrant Training course, which includes funeral, wedding, and naming celebrancy. You’ll be guided every step of the way by passionate mentors like Sarah, who understand both the artistry and responsibility of celebrancy.
With AMC’s industry-leading training, you’ll receive:
- Expert-led modules covering every aspect of funeral celebrancy
- One-to-one mentoring support from experienced professionals
- Weekly group Q&A sessions
- Access to our exclusive community of supportive celebrants
- All the business tools and paperwork you need to start your practice
Join Sarah and our community of over 600 celebrants who’ve chosen to turn their compassion into a meaningful career that makes a real difference to families when they need it most.
You can find Sarah at Pembrokeshire Natural Burial Ground online, through leadham.com. As a celebrant, she operates as Heart of Pembrokeshire Ceremonies. Sarah welcomes visitors to the burial ground and is always happy to share her passion for natural burial and meaningful celebration of life.
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