History & Purpose
In ages past, the church provided final resting places for the deceased near buildings of worship as continuing witness to the resurrection. Myers Park United Methodist Church offers an alternative to ground burial in its Columbarium.
The Columbarium undergirds our belief in the communion of saints and gives comfort to the bereaved. lnurnment on church grounds proclaims that those whose ashes reside in the Columbarium are members in the body of Christ.
It also sets apart a place for remembrance of those we love who have gone before us. Pastorally, the closeness of the sacred resting place of loved ones is a consolation in the midst of loss.
Eligibility
Members, past clergy, and employees of Myers Park United Methodist Church, together with their spouses and members of their immediate families including children, grandchildren, parents and companions are eligible for inclusion in the Columbarium or Memorial Wall.
Columbarium Angel
Angel of Remembrance, a sculpture by the late Richard Hallier, is the focal point of the garden and offers a peaceful setting for families to gather in love and remembrance.
Columbarium Niches
Columbarium niches are located in a gardenlike setting surrounding Francis Chapel. Each niche holds up to two urns for cremains. Urns should be provided by the family of the deceased. Urns are not available through the church but can be purchased through providers of funeral services. Each urn is placed in a canister and secured by a stone faceplate, which is engraved after ashes are placed in the niche. Urns placed in the walls of Francis Chapel can be up to 8 x 8 x 8 inches in size. Urns placed in the section added in 2024 must not exceed 5 ¾ x 5 ¾ x 7 inches.
Memorial Wall
As a way to remember loved ones whose remains are scattered in the designated location of the Columbarium or interred elsewhere, the Columbarium provides a Memorial Wall composed of three bronze memorial plaques. Individual nameplates are engraved by the church to identify the deceased.
Memorial Service
A memorial service for the inurnment of cremated remains may be planned by a pastor in consultation with the deceased’s family. Only an ordained minister shall conduct the inurnment service.
Purchasing
Columbarium niches may be purchased in advance of one’s death. Memorial Wall nameplates are not purchased in advance of death except when a surviving companion purchases the adjacent nameplate so both
names can be displayed together.
$2,000: One niche for single or double use located in the walls of Francis Chapel
$4,000: One niche for single or double use located in the 2024 expansion areas
$350: Engraving one name on a niche faceplate
$700: Engraving two names on a niche faceplate
$400: Memorial Wall nameplate with engraving