Funeral Celebrant · Across Yorkshire

Every life
tells a beautiful story

Bespoke life stories and eulogies, thoughtfully composed and warmly delivered, to honour the unique journey of your loved one.

Chris Marsden, funeral celebrant
Chris Marsden
Chris Marsden — York, Yorkshire
About Chris

"Every life tells a beautiful story."

I'm Chris Marsden, a dedicated funeral celebrant working across Yorkshire. I believe that every person's life is a story worth telling — with care, with warmth, and with sincerity.

My background is unconventional, and all the richer for it. With over 30 years in broadcasting across BBC and regional radio, I've spent a career finding the story in every voice — crafting words that connect and resonate with an audience.

Alongside this, my years in healthcare and nursing home support have given me the ability to truly listen. To sit with people in their most vulnerable moments and hold space with compassion.

It is this rare blend — the storyteller and the carer — that I bring to every tribute I create. Each ceremony is as unique and beautifully human as the life it celebrates.

Listen

The Dead Good Podcast

Conversations on grief, ceremony and the stories we leave behind — told with the same honesty I bring to every tribute.

Process

How It Works

From first conversation to the day itself — a straightforward path, held with care at every stage.

00:01

Initial Conversation

A relaxed chat where I learn about your loved one and what matters most to you.

00:02

Crafting the Tribute

I carefully compose a bespoke life story, weaving together memories and personality.

00:03

The Ceremony

I deliver the tribute with warmth and sincerity, guiding the day so you can be present.

00:04

A Lasting Memory

You receive a written copy of the tribute to keep and share — a life beautifully told.

A Changing Tradition

As more families choose Pure Cremation, the farewell doesn't have to disappear

Crematorium services are becoming rarer as more people opt for direct, unattended cremation. That needn't mean saying goodbye without ceremony. A Crafted Tribute can be held anywhere that feels right — a village hall, a garden, a favourite pub, a front room — so your loved one's story is still told, in a place that meant something to them.

From
£150

Tribute Anywhere

A bespoke tribute delivered at a venue of your choosing, following a Pure Cremation. Price depends on length and travel distance — get in touch for a quote.

From
£125

Personalised Video Tribute

A recorded life story you can keep and share, uploaded to a private link — ideal for family who can't be there in person.

Every Farewell Is Different

What I Offer

Choose the setting and style that feels right for your loved one — traditional or otherwise.

From £220

Crematorium Services

Personal consultation, bespoke eulogy, and ceremony guidance.

From £200

Village Hall

Flexible format, extended tribute options, and music coordination.

From £300

Function Venue

Large gathering support, full management, and A/V coordination.

From £150

Tribute Anywhere

A venue of your choosing, following a Pure Cremation. Price depends on length and travel.

From £125

Recorded Video Tribute

Shareable keepsake uploaded to a private link, with remote support.

Let's talk

Not Sure Which Fits?

Every family and every farewell is different — get in touch and we'll find the right shape together.

Kind Words

What Families Say

"Chris captured Dad's spirit perfectly. Everyone said it was the most personal and moving service they'd ever attended."

Sarah T.

"From the very first meeting, Chris put us at ease. He turned memories into the most beautiful tribute."

James W.

"The recorded tribute was a wonderful idea for family abroad. Mum's story was told with such warmth and dignity."

Rebecca L.

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

— Dr. Seuss
Get In Touch

Let's tell their story together

Serving York and across Yorkshire