Purpose
The Columbarium in the Rose Garden of First Presbyterian Church is a place of inurnment, for memorializing and internment for the remains of eligible persons who chose cremation. The garden and grounds provide a quiet and dignified place of peace and beauty for loved ones to meditate and pray on this hallowed ground, sacred to the memory of those who have joined the Church Triumphant.

Eligibility
The columbarium shall be used for the inurnment of the cremated remains of
    (a) current and former members of the Church,
    (b) current or former ordained ministers of the Church, and
    (c) eligible family members to a current/former member or current/former ordained minister.

Inurnments in a Niche
The niches are designed as a single niche. The placement of the cremated remains of more than one deceased person in a single niche is prohibited. Two single niches can be purchased and plaqued accordingly to indicate a couple.

Container, Plaques, & Cremation Cost
Niche cost includes the container, bronze plaque and all engraving. The plaque is inscribed with the deceased’s name, date of birth and date of death. The cremation costs are not covered by any fee paid to the Church. The family will work directly with a funeral home for the cremation. No urn is used.

Committal Services
A committal service for the inurnment of cremated remains will be planned by the ministers of the Church in consultation with the deceased’s family.

Is Cremation Consistent with Christian Belief?
Some may wonder if cremation is consistent with Christian belief in the resurrection of the dead. Unlike the ancient Egyptians, we do not believe that our eternal hope is in any way contingent upon the preservation of one’s earthly remains. St. Paul, who describes resurrection with the metaphor of a seed’s germination, assures us that while the body is “sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body.”
(I Corinthians 15:44)

Reservations
Reservations may be made for specific niches.  Upon acceptance of the reservation and payment of applicable fees, the church will issue a receipt of payment and a Reservation Certificate for a specific niche.  The church maintains all records and operates the facility.  The Columbarium in the Rose Garden is built and maintained using the reservation fees from the purchase of niches, additional memorial gifts which the church may receive,
and other available funds.

Pre-Sale Pricing (through Oct. 31, 2023)
Single Niche: $2,000 per niche
*pricing includes container, plaque, & plaque engraving

Future Pricing
Prices will increase on Nov. 1,  2023 to $2,500 per Single Niche

Reserve a Niche
Reservations open on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.  Click here to reserve a niche or fill out a printed form in the church office.

How Can I Learn More?
Contact Jackie Joiner, Church Administrator, at jjoiner@fpctusc.org or (205) 752-3531 for more information about FPC Columbarium reservation and policies. You can also click here to read the Columbarium Manual of Operations.

Published 6/20/2023