Humanist celebrant Laura Gillespie gives Time for Reflection

April 1, 2025

Our Charity

As the second humanist to address the Scottish Parliament in 2025, Laura talked about the importance of belonging and ensuring that all people feel accepted and included in their communities.

We were proud to see one of our celebrants, Laura Gillespie, deliver Time for Reflection in the Scottish Parliament on 1 April. She used this opportunity to speak about times in her own life when she felt different and left out. These experiences taught her the importance of belonging and making sure everyone feels valued and accepted by society. Laura is the second Humanist Society Scotland celebrant to be offered the Time for Reflection slot in 2025 and the fifth humanist representative in the current parliamentary session (2021-2026).

Laura, who lives in Drumnadrochit, says living on the shores of Loch Ness and working across the Scottish Highlands “provides a stunning backdrop to everyday life”. She attributes her long career working in health and social work to the empathy, compassion and understanding she brings to her celebrant role. Laura describes humanism as a “compassionate, non-judgemental stance that fits perfectly with who I am.”

If belonging is both felt and ascribed, how can we influence both? We can start by being compassionate and reaching out to incomers, just like me, which encompasses immigrants and people who are seeking asylum. We can include people who seem different, just as I was. After all, embedded in humanist values—in those that we all share and live by—are being fair and respectful, and recognising the dignity and potential in all people.
Laura Gillespie, Humanist Celebrant – Time for Reflection Address, 1 April 2025

Time for Reflection was established in 1999 as a more inclusive alternative to the Westminster tradition of daily Anglican prayers. Despite those early aspirations, humanist and non-religious individuals have long been underrepresented in the programme of contributors. So far in the current session of parliament, 137 people have addressed MSPs at Time for Reflection. Roughly two-thirds have been representatives of the Christian faith and only one-quarter had a secular, humanist or non-religious background. In contrast, the recent census found that a majority of Scots have no religion. This includes 54.3% of people living in the Highlands.

Humanist Society Scotland CEO Fraser Sutherland said:

“We were really pleased to see Laura represent our charity in the Scottish Parliament. Laura is a dedicated celebrant and proud champion of humanism in the Highlands. I hope MSPs listened closely to her contribution and learned something new about the values by which humanists lead their lives.”

Read Laura’s Time for Reflection address

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