Columbarium at Boone UMC

The church plays an important role in most people’s lives. It is not surprising, therefore, that the church can play an important role in death. In 2012, the Church Council of Boone UMC commissioned a committee to study the possible construction of a Columbarium on church grounds. After intensive study, the committee recommended to the Church Council and Board of Trustees that a Columbarium/Prayer Garden and Memorial Wall be constructed. The Columbarium Garden was approved, and in 2017, the Boone UMC Columbarium was completed along the north side of the Boone UMC Preschool through the brick arch. The Columbarium Courtyard has niches and memorials constructed into walls, a rose garden, fountain, benches, and plants. The cross from the church on King Street is in the center of the Prayer Garden.

The Boone UMC Columbarium Garden is a repository for the ashes of deceased persons who have chosen cremation and offers a place of serenity to visit for prayer and reflection. The Columbarium follows the pattern of many other churches by having small niches within a brick wall. A niche is opened to receive ashes during an interment service and is then resealed. A granite face stone covers each niche and is engraved with a name, date of birth, and date of death. Each niche may hold one or two sets of ashes. There is also a space for the scattering of ashes. In addition, there is a wall for memorial plaques for past and present church members who are buried elsewhere or have had ashes scattered but wish to have a marker at the church.

The Columbarium Courtyard stands as a reminder to us that those who went before us are not forgotten and have found peace and rest with God and inspires reverence for this life and hope for the life to come.

If you have not visited the Boone UMC Columbarium Garden, please consider doing so. It is a beautiful addition to our church grounds.

You may pick up a copy of the Columbarium Garden Policy and Guidelines from the Church Office if you would like to learn more or are interested in purchasing a niche or memorial plaque.