[Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of articles about columbaria.]
This fall a new church committee is gathering to consider building a columbarium at Arborlawn to provide a unique, meaningful end-of-life option for church members and their families. In response to hearing about this committee, many of you have asked, "What is a columbarium?"
According to Webster: A columbarium is an ancient sepulchre with recesses for urns containing the ashes of the dead. (The word is derived from Latin word columba meaning pigeon or dove.)
And from to Wikipedia: A columbarium is a place for the respectful and usually public storage of cinerary urns (i.e. urns holding a deceased person's cremated remains).
There are many examples of ancient columbaria scattered all over Europe, but it may surprise you that there are also many examples of contemporary columbaria closer to home here in the DFW area. According to a Star-Telegram article, there are 26 church columbaria in North Texas with several more being considered.
In our second article next month, we will discuss why so many of this type of building are springing up in mainstream churches today. Until then, if you are curious, visit First United Methodist Church in downtown Fort Worth, Saint Stephens Presbyterian, or University Christian Church for some local examples of established columbaria.
For more information on planning for a possible Arborlawn columbarium, please contact Paula Thomas.
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