Church columbarium is a statement of faith
Author: Rev'd Nancy Cox
July 22, 2026
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses….” — Hebrews 12:1
Summer is a season for vacations, family gatherings, and enjoying longer days. It may seem like an unusual time to think about a church columbarium. But perhaps that is exactly why it is a good time.
Planning ahead is much easier when we are not in the midst of grief. Making arrangements for our final resting place is a gift we give to those we love. It spares our families from making difficult decisions during an already painful time and allows us to express our wishes with thought and prayer.
For Christians, choosing a church columbarium is about more than planning. It is a statement of faith.
Every Sunday, as we gather for worship, our church columbarium stands in witness that the Church is larger than those gathered in the pews.
As we offer praise at St. Mary’s, the columbarium quietly reminds us that those who have gone before us in faith are a part of the great communion of saints. We join our voices not only with those sitting beside us, but with “angels and archangels and all the company of heaven,” and our hope rests not in ourselves, but in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The columbarium is a visible expression of that hope. It is a place where those who worshiped, prayed, served, were baptized, married, and nourished by the sacraments in this parish continue to be remembered as part of the household of faith. It quietly proclaims our confidence in the resurrection and the promise that, in Christ, death is not the end of the story.
If you have ever considered purchasing a niche in our columbarium, now is a good time to explore that possibility. The Vestry has approved an increase in the purchase price of a niche to $1,500, effective January 1, 2027. To make arrangements for a niche, please contact the columbarium coordinator, Virginia McCook, through the church office.
Planning ahead is not about focusing on death. It is about caring for those we love, bearing witness to our faith, and trusting that, surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, we continue our journey in the hope of Christ’s resurrection.
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