A visitor or even a new member of Oriental United Methodist Church may not be aware of the columbarium tucked away behind a wrought-iron gate between the Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary. The brick wall filled with burial niches was conceived of back in 2002, according to Lay Leader Catherine Baxley, when she expressed to her husband Carl her desire to be cremated and have her ashes “inurned” in a niche rather than buried in the ground. After some research, which involved visiting other churches, Carl and his fellow trustee Caleb Marsh approached the church with the idea and were able to get a loan to begin construction. The plan was that once the debt was paid by proceeds from selling the niches, each of which holds two urns, the remaining income would go toward its upkeep. One of OUMC’s circles, which was maintaining a garden at the time, agreed; and a columbarium committee, consisting of Carl, Caleb, and Beth Millman, arranged for a contractor to begin construction. The result is 90 niches, each of which can be fitted with a brass plaque listing the names of those inurned. A Memorial Tablet on the wall opposite the niches holds the names of members whose ashes are scattered elsewhere.
Use of the columbarium, which comes from the Latin word for a dovecote, a nest for doves, is limited to members of the congregation (including inactive members) and their spouses, children, step-children, or adopted children of members, parents or step-parents of members, and current or former ministers of the church and their spouses and children. Exceptions to those listed may be approved by the administrative board.
The cost of a niche reservation is $500, a custom-made urn to fit the niche is $100, and a bronze plaque is approximately $350. The inurnment fee, which includes opening and closing of the niche and installation of the plaque is $200. A bronze plaque for the Memorial Tablet, to honor those whose ashes are scattered elsewhere, is $300.
Many memorial services have taken place in the columbarium, but it is also a place for contemplation, with benches for visitors to use. Carl Baxley’s remains were the first to be inurned there, with space for Catherine beside him. She says of him, “If there was something to be done, he got it done,” and the columbarium is proof of that.