My Story | How I Work | What Matters

My name is Rich.

I’m an a husband, a dad, and an ordained Baptist Minister. I have spent most of my life working in charities, and after stepping down as a charity CEO, I chose to focus on the work I care about most.

I now support charities and serve as a Celebrant, helping people mark life’s most significant moments with meaning, honesty, and care.

I started Hope-Filled Ceremonies to offer ceremonies held with care, confidence, and hope.

These are not performances.
They are deeply human moments – often joyful, sometimes tender, always personal.

My role is to help shape ceremonies that feel true to the people at their heart, held with calm presence and thoughtful attention

My Story

I’ve always been drawn to working with people – especially when something important is happening, and helping that moment to be held well.

My path has taken me through churches, charities, and a range of different settings and communities. I’ve worked with people at many stages of life – in joy, in grief, and in uncertainty – and across different traditions and cultures.

What has stayed constant is a passion for people:
your story, what matters to you, and how to create space where you can be yourself.

I enjoy exploring, learning, and seeing things from different perspectives. That shapes how I approach ceremonies too — not assuming, not rushing, but paying attention.

At the heart of it, I believe people need reassurance.
That there is no single “right way” to express love, grief, or commitment.
That a ceremony can feel like you.

“There is no single ‘right way’ to express love, grief, or commitment.”

How I Work

My work begins with a conversation.

That might be over coffee or online – but the starting point is always the same: listening.

I don’t arrive with a fixed script or pre-designed ceremony.
I begin with you – who you are, what matters to you, and what you’re hoping for.

Some people come with clear ideas.
Others simply know how they want something to feel.

Both are equally welcome.

From there, I help shape the ceremony with you – offering structure, suggestions, and guidance where helpful, while making sure decisions about language, tone, and content are made with you, not for you.

In the background, I work carefully and thoroughly. I value clarity and organisation, and I’ll help guide things forward so you’re never left wondering what happens next.

At the same time, I try to hold things with the right balance – taking the moment seriously without making it feel heavy. There is often space for laughter, even in the most difficult moments.

“If I have done my work well, people remember the moment – not the person leading it.”

What Matters

At the heart of my work is a simple belief:
people matter – and how you are treated in significant moments matters deeply.

I believe in the dignity and worth of every person.
That you should feel seen, heard, and able to be yourself.

I value honesty as well as kindness.
Care is not about avoiding difficult things, but about holding them well – with clarity, compassion, and respect.

My Christian faith shapes this work, but it is offered gently.
It sits alongside a commitment to listen well, to pay attention, and to create ceremonies that are grounded, thoughtful, and real.

I try to hold a few things together at once:

Grace and Truth

Clarity and Compassion

Structure and Flexibility

That balance is what allows a ceremony to feel both steady and authentic.

“Care is not about avoiding difficult things, but about holding them well.”

Raison d’Être

This work is not simply something I do – it is something I am called to.

My hope is that, after a ceremony, you might say:

“That felt like us.”

“You captured everything we hoped for – and more.”

“We felt seen, reassured, and held.”

If that happens, then the ceremony has done what it was meant to do.

An Invitation

If you are looking for a ceremony that is Christian in grounding, pastoral in approach, and deeply personal, you are very welcome to get in touch.

We can begin with a conversation – without pressure or obligation – to explore what you are hoping for, and whether Hope-Filled Ceremonies is the right fit for you.