“Telling Stories at Life’s Most Important Moments”

My BBC Radio Oxford Interview with Phil Mercer

It was a real pleasure to join Phil Mercer on BBC Radio Oxford’s Sunday Breakfast show recently to talk about my work as a celebrant, the emotional importance of ceremonies, and the unexpected path that led me into this profession.

During our conversation, Phil described celebrants as the people who help guide families through “some of the most memorable days in our lives” — whether joyful occasions such as weddings and baby naming, or deeply emotional farewells at funerals. It’s a role I never imagined myself doing years ago, yet now it feels completely natural.

How It All Began

I explained to Phil that I “almost stumbled into” working as a celebrant.

After several close friends lost parents, they asked me to read eulogies at funerals because, while they had the words, they felt unable to speak them aloud on such emotional days. After doing this several times, a funeral director asked if I had ever considered becoming a celebrant professionally.

At the time, I honestly didn’t even know what a celebrant was.

That conversation led me to train with the wonderful Celebrant Circle UK, where I discovered the creative side of training to become a celebrant — the storytelling, the writing, and the privilege of helping people share deeply personal moments with those they love most.

The Power of Storytelling

One of the things I spoke about most passionately during the interview was storytelling.

Whether it’s a love story at a wedding, the journey of adopting a child at a naming ceremony, or reflecting on a life well lived at a funeral, every ceremony is built around human connection and personal stories.

For me, the role is never about delivering a “template” ceremony. It’s about listening carefully, understanding what matters most to a family or couple, and creating something authentic, personal, and meaningful.

Supporting Families Through Grief

Phil and I also discussed the emotional side of funeral work. People often ask how celebrants manage to hold themselves together during such difficult moments. The truth is that while we absolutely feel the emotion in the room, our role is to gently guide families through the ceremony and help create the best possible farewell for their loved one.

I shared my own way of describing it — imagining a sort of “golden invisibility cloak” that allows me to carry out my role while protecting myself emotionally during the service itself.

Of course, some ceremonies stay with you long afterwards, particularly those involving young or unexpected deaths. That’s why support networks among celebrants are so important, and I feel incredibly grateful to be part of such a compassionate professional community at the Celebrant Circle. Both Shelley and Jacqueline are still working as celebrants, and their training covers all aspects of self-care, something they put a real emphasis on.

Faith, Spirituality, and Personal Choice

Another important part of our conversation centred around modern ceremonies and the flexibility celebrants can offer.

Many people assume celebrant-led ceremonies are entirely non-religious, but that’s not always the case. I explained that ceremonies can include elements of faith, spirituality, blessings, hymns, or readings if those aspects are meaningful to the family.

For many couples and families, a celebrant-led ceremony provides a middle ground — allowing them to create something deeply personal while still honouring traditions, beliefs, or family customs.

A Truly Humbling Award

Phil kindly mentioned the national award I recently received from Celebrant Circle — an honour that came as a complete surprise.

The award is named in memory of the remarkable Jules Maxine: actor, writer, comedian, celebrant, and passionate supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, who faced terminal illness with extraordinary courage and compassion.

To receive an award inspired by someone so admired within our profession was deeply moving. Standing in front of fellow celebrants — peers whose work I respect enormously — made the moment even more meaningful.

I genuinely felt humbled and incredibly grateful.

Why This Work Matters

Every ceremony marks a moment that matters profoundly to someone.

Whether it’s welcoming a child, celebrating love, renewing vows, or saying goodbye, these are occasions people remember forever. Being trusted to help shape those moments is something I never take lightly.

I’m so grateful to Phil Mercer and BBC Radio Oxford for inviting me onto the programme and for allowing me to talk about my work as a Celebrant, compassion, storytelling, and the importance of human connection.

Because ultimately, that’s what this work is all about: people, stories, and helping others feel seen, heard, and supported at life’s most important moments.

Fiona Mac Celebrant is based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

For more information, contact the author fiona@FionaMacCelebrant.co.uk or

Call her on 07768 987040 or DM on Instagram fionamac.celebrant

The Celebrant Circle is a leading and accredited training organisation for Professional Celebrants Discover the Celebrant Circle: Training, Membership, Mentorship

Fiona is the founder of the Abingdon Compassionate Café. Click here for more information Partners | Fiona Mac Celebrant

Want to listen to the full interview (8 mins long) go to Instagram and click on highlights Radio Oxford