St. James Columbarium

Dear St. James Family,

Christian congregations throughout history have provided a final resting place for their members in small church cemeteries. This possibility is not practical or available to most churches anymore.  To provide for parishioners, many faith communities are now creating memorial gardens and/or on-site columbarium for the cremated remains of their members.

Several years ago St. James received a bequest from Miner Brotherton that provides seed money for the eventual construction of a columbarium.  A committee recently formed to discuss possibilities as well as determine interest. 

Columbarium Committee Fact-Finding Report

• Three areas at St. James have been identified as potential sites for the columbarium. Great care was given to determining appropriate locations to ensure that the project will not interfere with the eventual renovations as identified by our Growing In Faith – Building for the Future initiative.
•  If we move forward construction could be completed within one year.
• Funding would be provided by several sources including the Brotherton bequest, pre-sales of niches (place to hold urn), memorial gifts, and perhaps a loan from the St. James Memorial Fund, to be repaid as niches are sold.
• The purchase price of a single or double niche is estimated to be between $1,250 - $2,500.
• Cremation with burial in a columbarium has been found to be an economical and ecologically sound option.

Next Steps
If survey returns indicate sufficient interest, the committee would work with the Church Council to bring a motion before the membership at the Annual Meeting in January. If a positive vote is received at that time the committee would go forward with the project.

Attached is a survey that will provide the committee with your feedback and help to guide the project, if it is determined that we should proceed. The survey can also be completed online at http://stjames-ri.org/columbarium-survey. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and submit it online, via mail, or by placing it in the Sunday Collection Basket by December 15th. 

Please see Pastor Andrew, Debi Curry or Jill Bowen if you have any questions or need additional information.

Sincerely,

Columbarium Committee
Debi Curry
Jill Bowen
Blanche Richmond
Edmund Richmond