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Rev. Maggy Whitehouse
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Available for
Countries Covered
Areas Covered
I travel Internationally & Nationally
Specialisms
Mixed-faith, mystical, comedy.
Affiliations
West Devon Methodist Church, Unity UK, Unity Texas, Center for Action and Contemplation.
Languages
English, French. I have done one wedding in Spanish but it wasn't brilliant! :-).
Hi, I'm Maggy
I am an ordained Independent Sacramental Priest with decades of experience of conducting ceremonies for people of all faiths and levels of faith. It’s YOUR beliefs and YOUR comfort that matter.
I began this work because it was something I needed but couldn’t get. So I started with funerals. My first husband died in 1990 and back then, the options were simply C of E or Humanist. He was an atheist and my family was conventional C of E and my family couldn’t face a bleak no-hope funeral for someone they loved. I asked the vicar not to say “I am the resurrection and the life” at the start of Henry’s funeral but he replied, “That’s how the service goes.”
Nowadays, thank goodness, it is not like that. But back in the 1990s, I was a rare beast. I found a Jewish celebrant in London and trained with him so that I could offer bespoke funerals for anyone.
What's my ceremony style?
Weddings, blessings, namings, baptisms, communion (Mass), funerals, burials of ashes, pet services.
I’m currently being used as a minister by the Methodist Church in Devon … and working with our local Shaman on Dartmoor … while teaching classes in Judaeo-Christian mysticism. So, I’m happy doing pretty much any kind of ceremony with integrity apart from humanist ones. I do have a belief so I leave those to others who understand what it is like not to have a faith.
I live in Devon and can travel to the Midlands and London but please do try and find someone local. However, I love to travel abroad. Four years ago I conducted a wedding on the border of the Czech Republic and Poland with an interpreter which was a fabulous experience with a local folklore addition of a woman turning up with a baby claiming (falsely) that it was the bridegroom’s – in order to test the couple’s mettle!
Prices From
£500 weddings, £225 funerals. POA others.
Why choose Maggy?
I’m 66 – I have decades of experience and can offer you gravitas, humour, strength and that all-important talent of the broadcaster, the ability to think on my feet in live situations.
I’m a professional writer and have the knack of catching the essence of a person’s character which means that ceremonies feel very personal, very real, authentic and unique.
I love my job.
What do I offer?
Weddings
Preferably two humans, gender irrelevant, age irrelevant and hopefully deeply in love with each other.
Sense of humour always preferred…
Favourite type of ceremony? Oh, anything involving horses, tigers, hounds… :-)
What a daft question! They are ALL my favourite ceremonies, ‘cos I write brilliant marriage services and I attract wonderful couples!
I don’t have packages; I write the wedding that you want, whether it’s simple, traditional, fancy-dress, or utterly bonkers and I charge £500. I like to have a cuppa with the two of you to find out what you believe in, how much you would like to laugh and the exact style of wedding you would like. If we can’t meet, then Zoom will do nicely. I’ve done fairy weddings, mixed-race and mixed-faith weddings and – of course – same sex couple weddings. One question I do ask though – and that is: ‘Do you want a wedding or do you want a marriage?’ The wedding is, hopefully, a fabulous day but a happy, long-lasting marriage is the goal and I want to help you achieve that goal. Re. expenses – I don’t charge for travel but if you’re far enough away for me to have to overnight, I do ask you to fork out for that.
Prices From
£500 weddings, £225 funerals. POA others.
Why choose Maggy for your wedding?
1/ Professional comedian in case the bride is more than fashionably late. 2/ Excellent with hecklers. 3/ Bring my own needle and thread for minor bridal clothing malfunctions. 4/ Carry holy water in case any discreet little exorcisms required. 5/ Once was sent a telegram by MeatLoaf. 6/ Willing and able to put together a surprisingly lovely scratch bouquet of wildflowers if the bride’s bouquet doesn’t turn up. 7/ Former live TV director – capable of instant floor management, quick re-thinks, good at calming any hysteria; used to divas of all sexes. 8/ Once filmed a wedding (the camera guy was sick) while simultaneously conducting it. 9/. Able to re-write the whole darn service at the last moment because Aunt Veronica objected to something. Also able to be polite to Aunt Veronica afterwards. 10/ Pet marriages? I’ll do anything for love but I won’t do that.
Naming Ceremonies
I don’t do packages, I do discussions with you to work out exactly what you want. As you can probably gather, I’m not much of a one for marketing!
Prices From
£150.00
Why choose Maggy for your naming ceremony?
You should only choose me as your celebrant if you feel a connection to my profile here. You’ll know … I don’t need to try and convince you. And if it isn’t me – then may it be the perfect person for the perfect day x
Renewal of Vows
I am an ordained priest in the Independent Catholic Church with decades of experience of conducting ceremonies for people of all faiths and levels of faith. It’s YOUR beliefs and YOUR comfort that matter.
I began this work because it was something I needed but couldn’t get. So I started with funerals. My first husband died in 1992 and back then, the options were simply C of E or Humanist. He was an atheist and my family was conventional C of E and my family couldn’t face a bleak no-hope funeral for someone they loved. I asked the vicar not to say I am the resurrection and the life at the start of Henry’s funeral but he replied, That’s how the service goes.
Nowadays, thank goodness, it is not like that. But back in the 1990s, I was a rare beast. I found a Jewish celebrant in London and trained with him so that I could offer bespoke funerals written to the exact level of faith of the deceased and their families.
My first ever funeral was the husband of a Hindu-Christian couple with an open coffin, where one of the relatives lit a candle and set fire to the curtains of the crematorium. It’s mixing metaphors but that was a bit of a baptism of fire!
Since then (2007) I’ve conducted mixed-faith weddings, baptisms, funerals and vow renewals all over the UK. In funerals, I have worked with the families of suicides, children and those who have been murdered — and I have worked as chaplain at St. Mary’s Hospice, Birmingham. I’m currently training to be a prison chaplain.
In 2007, I was headhunted by a Bishop in the Independent Catholic Church after he saw me do a funeral for a man who had been murdered. I resisted … but this is the most beautiful all-inclusive church and once I had understood its nature and message it became a privilege to be a part of it. I’m what’s known as a non-stipendiary priest, which essentially means freelance … and I’m currently working on the Methodist circuit in West Devon, having just finished a year as Sunday Faith Presenter for BBC Radio Devon.
My speciality is that I have studied Judaeo-Christian mysticism for 25 years so I know the roots of faith and can hold to Universal Principles while adapting to the modern world. Your wedding, for example, could be written entirely to your taste but still fit the patterns of creation used in the Tridentine Mass or other sacred ceremonies. This may sound like pretentious rubbish but there is a deep magic and mystery to using the Lore that has been understood for millennia and even the most secular of congregations can feel that.
Oh, and I’m funny too (where appropriate :-D ).
For the last seven years, I’ve been a professional stand up comedian. Being called to do that was just as much a surprise as becoming a funeral minister! I’m also a Bible historian and author of 17 books … work as a freelance faith presenter for the BBC.
Prices From
£350 weddings, £185 funerals. POA others.
Why choose Maggy for your renewal of vows?
I’m 64 – I have decades of experience and can offer you gravitas, humour, strength and that all-important talent of the broadcaster, the ability to think on my feet in live situations.
I’m a professional writer and have the knack of catching the essence of a person’s character which means that ceremonies feel very personal, very real, authentic and unique.
I love my job.
Funerals
I don’t do packages; I do the funeral that you and yours truly want for your loved one.
My first husband died after one year of marriage and I started this work because, back then, I couldn’t find the perfect funeral for him which would help me and everyone with our grief. It is my absolute privilege to ensure that your loved one’s funeral is as loving, inspirational and comforting as possible.
I’ve taken funerals for murder victims, suicides and children. I’ve done fairy and angel funerals, funerals where a dog was chief mourner, heck, I even took my own mother’s funeral (that wasn’t the day to run out of waterproof mascara…). It is an honour to do this work and yes, I probably will shed a tear during your ceremony because, when talking with you about your loved one, I find myself loving them too.
Prices From
£200
Why choose Maggy for your funeral?
You’ll know if it’s me you want; you’ll just know x
Reviews for Rev. Maggy Whitehouse
Total Reviews: 5
Average Rating: 5
reviews (5)
Just perfect…
Maggy was absolutely wonderful as our celebrant for our wedding.
Maggy listened to what we wanted as a couple and put together a draft ceremony for us to read through.
My husband was particularly nervous about the ceremony but Maggy made him feel at ease when they first met and she helped organise musicians upon her arrival on the morning of the wedding.
Maggy made us both feel relaxed and carried out the most perfect, personal and memorable service for us and our families
Look no further for a funny, caring and professional celrbrant
Thank you Maggy! ❤️
The Perfect Celebrant for our day
My husband is practicing Christian and I am practicing pagan so we were keen to have someone who understood both religions. Maggie was wonderful and worked with us to curate the perfect ceremony. On the day she was a well of calm for us and it was everything we’d hoped for. There was a beautiful moment where a wasp was buzzing around my flower crown and she just gently took it in her hand and released it away. She brought a brightness to the ceremony that brought everyone together. I couldn’t recommend her highly enough.
Maggy saved our wedding day!
A day after the wedding, my husband and I finally sent our parents and relatives off and now having some quiet time for ourselves while reminiscing how great and smooth everything went. We really can’t thank Maggy enough for being a part of this wedding, being so proactive and reliable during the preparation and always reminding and guiding us. On the day, she was the rock that kept my sanity and guided everyone calmly but decisively. Without her, our ‘reminiscing session’ today would have gone a bit differently and less nicely.