The Columbarium & Sullivan Gardens
Columbarium
The church plays a significant role in our lives by ministering to us during all the meaningful events of life, starting from birth to death. We celebrate baptisms, confirmations, and marriages within the church. Together, as a community of faith, we seek to meet the needs of others during illnesses, times of crisis, and ultimately, death.
A vital ministry of First Presbyterian Church is caring for members of the congregation and their families at their time of death. The Columbarium provides a comforting and protected resting place for people who have invested their lives in the ministry of this outpost of Christ's kingdom.
Sullivan Gardens, the setting for our Columbarium, instills a sense of peace and God's presence. Landscaping in the Columbarium area complements the granite markers that designate the sites for interment. Cast bronze markers identify the deceased and their birth and death dates. The natural grass covering the urns that hold the ashes reminds us of what Scripture proclaims in Genesis 3:19, "By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
The first phase of our Columbarium was dedicated on Easter morning in 1992. In 2017, a second phase was added, providing 1,140 spaces. More than 700 spaces are occupied or reserved by our church members and their families.
Each Easter at sunrise, we gather in the Sullivan Gardens and Columbarium. This setting orients our worship as we celebrate our risen Savior and bear witness to the resurrection of the dead.
Frequently Asked Questions
The church has been our spiritual home during our lifetimes, and it is, therefore, an appropriate place to remain. The Columbarium is a modern version of the earlier burial in a church courtyard. Churchyard cemeteries, a tradition in Europe and America, can often be found near historic places and many small community churches. There is something very comforting about being laid to rest near the church where you worshipped.
Niches are reserved for church members and their immediate families. Staff members at First Presbyterian Church, working for ten or more years, are eligible to purchase space in the Columbarium for themselves, their spouses, and dependent children. Each niche bears a plate indicating the person's legal name and birth and death dates. Traditional funeral or committal services may be held in the church for those choosing the Columbarium as their resting place.
Church members may choose a niche or niches from the available spaces at the time of completing the agreement. The Columbarium receives perpetual care under the supervision of the church Session to ensure that the entire area remains attractive and peaceful.
Church members may choose a niche or niches from the available spaces at the time of completing the agreement. The Columbarium receives perpetual care under the supervision of the church Session to ensure that the entire area remains attractive and peaceful.
The Columbarium offers a very cost-effective burial arrangement. You and your family may commit to having your remains interred by signing an agreement for this right. The cost estimate is approximately $500 per right of interment, plus the cost of the urn and bronze marker at the time of interment.
To request an appointment or for more information contact our columbarium manager.
Charlotte Schierbaum
Ministry Assistant for Congregational Care
Charlotte supports congregational care, other caregiving ministries, the columbarium, and New Officer Training.
Since 1814
For Christ, His kingdom, and the common good.
Worship with us Sunday at 8:30 or 11:00 a.m.