Columbarium Garden
For centuries Christians have brought loved ones to the church to be buried, either within the church walls or in a churchyard cemetery. This practice still continues for rural churches throughout America. PHUMC members have the option of having their church home be their final resting-place in the PHUMC Columbarium Garden.
The Columbarium Garden Board Resolution was approved at a Charge Conference on April 20, 2004…the contract for construction was signed in the spring of 2005 at a total cost of $297,640…and the Consecration Service was held on September 11, 2005.
The word “columbarium” is derived from Latin and translates as a compartmented house for doves. A columbarium today is a holy place for the interment of cremains (cremated human remains). It seems especially appropriate for Christians to be placed in a columbarium since the dove is the symbol of God’s spirit and of peace. The PHUMC Columbarium Garden has room for 683 niches, 1804 pavers surrounding the common ground for interment there, and room on the Memorial Wall for 185 memorial plaques. The text on the Memorial Wall was selected in 2005: “Our saints, who rest elsewhere but are here in spirit forever.” Costs are as follows: $1500 for niche inurnment; $750 for common ground interment, and $250 for a memorial plaque.
The vision statement of the Columbarium Garden states: “It is to be a place of worship and celebration – a place to meditate and remember those who have gone before us. It is also a place to look to the future as it can be a setting for baptisms, confirmations, weddings and other special events. It is a holy place for the inurnment of cremains in niches and interment of cremains in the common ground.”
For information about the application process for the PHUMC Columbarium Garden, please contact Rev. Lynn Lindsey, Director, or Jennifer Shannon, Administrative Assistant, at 664.3600.
