Columbarium Garden
The Columbarium Garden at Grace Church is an interior courtyard located on the North Cloister of the Nave, designed into the building interior as a quiet, removed resting place for cremated remains.
The Columbarium Garden at Grace Church is an interior courtyard located on the North Cloister of the Nave, designed into the building interior as a quiet, removed resting place for cremated remains.
Throughout the history of Christianity, the Church has provided for burial within churchyards or crypts. This ancient tradition is consistent with the Church’s belief in a decent and reverent burial for all. For family and friends a measure of comfort may be drawn from interment on consecrated church property.
While in modern times the traditional churchyard has virtually disappeared as an actively used place of burial, Grace Episcopal Church is able to provide a consecrated, well maintained place for the interment of ash remains of parish members and their families.
All Souls’ Columbarium Garden is an interior courtyard located on the North Cloister of the Nave. Designed into the building interior as a quiet, removed space for meditation and reflection, this outdoor space is beautifully landscaped and surface textured. A stone wall running the length of the garden contains small niches for ashes. Seating areas and a small, bubbling water feature in the landscaping contribute to the tranquility of the space.
The Garden was initially established through a memorial gift to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for the life and ministry of Thomas Turner Wilheit.
Family members of those interred may call the parish office and request a code that will allow access to the garden between 7 AM – 10 PM, 7 days a week.
Please park in the lot at the corner of Brenau Ave and Boulevard and use the code to enter the building through the St. Francis garden. You’ll see a corner wall of windows straight ahead with a view out into the courtyard. The door is down the steps/ramp to the left of the windows.
The ash remains of a member of Grace Episcopal Church, a former member, or a member of his or her family may be interred.
The fee for each niche is $2,000. The fee provides for interment, perpetual care of the Garden, a granite niche cover, and up to 2 bronze plaques inscribed with the name(s) of the person(s), together with their dates of birth and death. There will be no floral arrangements or other additional decorations in the garden.
Arrangements for the interment of ash remains may be made by completing an application and submitting a deposit of $500. On approval of the application, an acceptance will be issued. The application and the acceptance, together with the Regulations of the Garden, will constitute a contract between the applicant and Grace Episcopal Church. The original contract will be kept in a permanent file in the offices of the church. A copy of the contract will be given to the applicant.
The balance of the payment will be due not later than 1 year from the date of the application. In all cases, the entire fee must be received prior to interment. In the event of a change of mind, prior to the purchase of plaques, all monies paid in excess of the initial deposit will be refunded.