The columbarium is in two sections at the rear of our church yard garden. It is enclosed by a low brick wall for privacy but without a closed-in feeling. You can access each section by an attractive iron-grate gate bearing the motif of a cross.

Each internment niche is covered by a beautiful granite face plate on which the names and dates of birth and death of the deceased are engraved.

Memorial walkway
The memorial walkway is of matching brick with granite plaques inserted, bearing the names of those memorialized. The center of each section is an attractive planter filled with live plants. There are memorial tablets at the ends of the planters. The sides of the planters also hold benches for meditation and prayer.

Availability
Internment niches and memorial plaques are available to our members and their families.

Download a brochure to learn more about the columbarium and memorial walkway.

History
For several years members of our church envisioned building a columbarium on our church grounds.

In 19XX, the concept was approved by our Board of Trustees. Our Administrative Board approved the overall detailed plan and authorized its construction.

What is a columbarium?
Simply described, it is a wall of niches for urns that contain the cremated ashes of loved ones. The reservation of niches, like the reservation of cemetery plots, makes our columbarium self-perpetuating and permanently maintained.

What is the memorial walkway?
The walkway exists as the columbarium's floor where church members may honor the memory of those buried elsewhere.

What are the memorial tablets?
Memorial tablets are granite tablets on the walls of the interior planters where the names of memorialized members are affixed on bronze plaques.

Why a columbarium at Edenton Street?
First and most important: We believe that interment on church grounds is a statement of our faith in the resurrection, the life everlasting and the church triumphant. We believe that interment within the church grounds is a doubly appropriate last resting place for the earthly remains of those who in life loved the church.

The columbarium setting is an updated version of an old-time church cemetery. It better allows both for maintenance and for ease of visitation. It also can be a serene spot for meditation and prayer.

Practically speaking, cemetery plots become increasingly remote and difficult to reach. Also, the comparison of the costs of a traditional cemetery burial and a columbarium internment reveals a substantial financial advantage of a columbarium.

How is the columbarium financed and maintained?
The columbarium is self-sustaining, financed by a Columbarium Fund entirely separate and apart from our church's other finances.

The church is responsible for the permanent maintenance of the columbarium and its memorial walkway and tablets.

After costs of construction and provision for permanent maintenance are met, any funds further generated accrue yearly to our church.

How do I reserve a niche?
Niches in the columbarium walls are reserved by member of the church in the same way that cemetery plots are reserved. With the reservation of a niche, the members receive a folder containing the following:

• A copy of the reservation contract.
• A copy of the Rules and Operating Procedures.
• A certificate acknowledging the reservation and indicating the specific niche and its location.

Plaques in the memorial walkway and names inscribed on the memorial tablets are recognized after donations to the columbarium fund.

How much does a niche or memorial plaque cost?
There are 360 columbarium niches. Each niche holds one or two cremation urns. Niches are available only to members of Edenton Street United Methodist Church and their families. The reservation price of each niche is $1,600 for either one or two urns. The price includes the engraving of names and dates of birth and death for each inurned person. There is no additional charge for opening and closing the niches.

For those who do not wish to make a full lump sum payment upon reservation of a niche, there is an installment plan whereby a niche may be reserved by an initial payment of $400, the remainder to be paid in increments of $400 over a period of three (3) years, plus a surcharge of $40.00 per year.

Plaques in the memorial walkway for persons interred elsewhere may be obtained upon donation of $500 or more to the columbarium fund.

Names may be affixed to the memorial tablets for persons interred elsewhere upon donation of $250 or more to the columbarium fund.

You may reserve columbarium niches and make arrangements for plaques and names by applying to the church office. Eligibility for use of niches, memorial walkway plaques and memorial tablets are specified in the Policy and Operating Rules of the Columbarium.

How can I get more information?
For any additional information you may need, contact the church office, or you may contact our business administrator, Dan Johnson, at 919-832-7535, ext. 211.