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As long as there have been churches and buildings used for religious purposes there have been people wishing for their remains to be interred or inured within or nearby. When one looks back at religious histories, there have been a number of high church officials buried within the floor of the church. Over the years and perhaps as much for the reason that there was so much more land available than today, cemeteries have been built and maintained. There are many church cemeteries in existence today. Many have increasing operating and maintenance costs while many are closed. One thing is certain, new church cemeteries for burial are rarely being started.
So what is the answer? Especially for a smaller church with perhaps a limited operating budget. Cremation is a custom as old as the earliest recorded history. It probably began, in any measurable number, during the early Stone Age or around 3000 B.C. Today, 32 percent of U.S. deaths result in cremation. It is over 50 percent in several states. The trend toward cremation is growing but what about the smaller church with interest in starting a columbarium project. Where and how is such a project started?
The Internet is full of companies that advertise columbariums for sale and many who offer installation packages. In fact at my last look, there were 10,500 web sites dealing with the product. Many of the columbariums offered are massive in size and some are massive in cost. Most of those offered are designed for outdoor installations and are part of a "wall system" that does not allow for the niches to be built in increments. Many of them require a tremendous cash outlay upfront.
So, as I discuss the following system, keep in mind certain words and phrases, i.e., wall system, outdoors, large niches, big cash outlay, and add on as needed.
What about a columbarium that contains nine niches in the space occupied by a regular double niche for two urns? Sounds impossible! What about a nine niche module that is warranted for 50 years? This module is 12 inches high, 12 inches wide and 16 inches from front to back. Again, it sounds impossible!
Infinity Memorial Systems offers such a system. It is a corporation with nationwide distributors. You can check out their system by going to www.InfinityMemorialSystems.com. Again, there are certain words and phrases that should be noted as one considers "the small church and starter kits."
"Reduced use of space" - a nine niche module the size of a regular, single niche.
"Lower capitalization" - a much smaller initial outlay of funds as opposed to a wall unit that is not necessary to begin the process.
"Self-funding" - buy additional nine niche modules as the need arises.
"Secure and low-maintenance" - place inside the church narthex temporarily until there is a need for an outdoor wall or structure. Again, remember the 50 year warranty.
"Indoor or outdoor" - can be retained inside the church because of its size and added too or placed outdoors within a wall or structure as the need for several niche modules become obvious.
"Moveable niche units" - just as the words state, even though the units are heavy, they can be moved if or as the need arises.
If congregation members were polled today, it is very likely that there would be several people who would step forward and say something like - "Yes, I have certain family ashes on my mantle and I'm not sure what to do with them." Probably, they would be happy to have them inurned in a church columbarium if one existed in their church.
The columbarium referred to is the answer for a small church without a large cash outlay and yet all the things people look for in a columbarium are there and then some. And, just because this article has highlighted a need in smaller congregations does not mean that the system discussed would not be very cost effective and perfect for any size church. It is a good way to get started and to have a self-funded project which grows with increasing needs.
