Memorial Garden

Columbarium

This is a depiction of what the wall will look like. The faceplates will be a Porto Beige limestone. The wall will be hill country stone. The walls will be less than 4 ft tall with two rows of niches. There will be 60 niches total with 30 niches on the south wall and 30 niches on the north wall. The walls will be on either side of the entry into the garden.

Frequently asked questions about the

Columbarium in Patrick’s Place

at the Church of the Apostles

1. Definitions:

Columbarium

A columbarium is a permanent structure made up of spaces where family members can place urns containing the ashes (or cremains) of cremated loved ones. The word 'columbarium' is derived from the Latin term columba, meaning "dwelling place of a dove." The dove, of course, has long symbolized in Christian tradition the embodiment of the Holy Spirit.

Inurnment

The placing of cremated remains in an urn.

The process involved in the placement of an urn containing cremated remains either above the ground in a niche, or below the ground in a grave.

2. Will there be a Committee to oversee the maintenance and the administration of the Columbarium?

Yes, the Committee shall consist of two members of the Church and the minister.

3. Who may be buried in the Columbarium?

Members of the Church of the Apostles, anyone in their immediate families and any former member of the Church of the Apostles. See by- laws for more info and exemptions.

4. How do I purchase a niche?

The purchase of niche is formalized with a contract and supporting paper work which formally defines:

*	what is purchased;
*	by whom;
*	at what exact burial location; and
*	at what cost.

Thereby, the duties, expectations and obligations of both parties are clearly defined.

Complete all appropriate forms and submit them, with payment in full, to the Committee. A member of the Committee will contact you to insure that all information is correct and then submit the application to the Committee for final approval. When the application is approved, you will be issued a Certificate of Right of Inurnment.

We take only cash and checks; we do not take credit cards. We require complete payment at the time of signing.

5. Do I actually own the burial space?

No. These are Sacred Burial Grounds. The Columbarium is not divided into real estate. A purchaser is acquiring rights to a niche, assuming complete control over all immediate and future burial decisions. The space is continuously owned and maintained by the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas providing long-term stability. Contracts, supporting paperwork and policy establish ownership and control of these rights, even through changing generations of family.

6. Can I sell my burial space on the open market?

No. The Columbarium and the Church of the Apostles does not recognize the sale of inurnment rights between private parties. However, inurnment rights may be transferred to another person, preferably a family member, by way of the Committee. An administration fee will be assessed for drafting and exercising a notarized transfer document.

7. Is there any chance my burial space will be re-sold?

No, the Columbarium Certificate grants an owner future rights for inurnment. The space is never reclaimed and resold, unless it is given back to the church because of alternate burial plans.

8. How do I control who will be buried in my burial space?

The right of inurnment is defined in the purchase contract and can only be amended by the original owners during their lifetimes. Blood descendants cannot change the inurnment assignments after the owner has died unless granted by the Committee.

9. What mandatory costs are involved in purchasing and using the Columbarium?

First, there is the cost for the niche. Second, there is the Committal Service Fee, which covers the opening and closing of the interment site, engraving of the deceased's name, date of birth and death on the memorial stone wall or marker.

10. Why is there Committal Service Fee?

It is an incomplete picture to think only of the physical "opening & closing" of the crypt or niche. The Burial Service Fee covers the physical act of inurnment, but even more, the fee supports the expenses of preserving, operating and improving the Columbarium.

11. How many people can be buried in a single niche space?

One cremated remains per niche space.

12. What can I write on the faceplate of the niche?

The faceplates will all be uniform in the stone used and the font for the inscriptions to create a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing wall.

Only the name of the deceased and the birth and death date are allowed.

Other dedications are available in the garden to provide more personal expressions of honor, love and memorials. Cornerstone quoins, inscribed boulders, trees, etc.

13. Can I pick which niche I want?

Not exactly. The niches will be allocated in an order to insure that there are not single empty niches in the wall. Therefore, at the time of purchase there will be certain spaces available from which to choose. Usually there will be a choice from the north and the south wall. Families are encouraged to purchase their niches at the same time to insure that they are allotted spaces next to each other.

14. Can I disinter my loved one for burial elsewhere?

We discourage this endeavor. We believe Rest in Peace means Rest in Peace. Nevertheless, we will support families that make this decision for valid reasons like keeping families together. We do everything possible to make this type of move reverent and respectful. However, we will need to have legal documentation for the transfer of remains.

15 What size urn will fit in your niches?

Most urns will fit in our niches- 11’’ X 11’’ X 11’’

16. Can I have ashes from my loved one which are in a plain delivery container placed in an urn prior to interment?

No- ashes must be in proper and size appropriate urn at the time of inurnment.

17. Can I have flowers and leave mementos by the niche of my loved one?

No- flowers may only be left on days that are appointed by the church and only for a designed number of days designated by the church, at which time the church will remove the flowers. The space will be used by many ministries of the church.

18. How do I make a donation to the Perpetual Care Fund of the Columbarium?

You can make a tax deductible contribution by making your check payable to The Church of the Apostles; designate “Patrick’s Place”, and mail to:

The Church of the Apostles

322 S. Mac Arthur

Coppell, Texas 75019

19. Can I donate my burial space back to the Church of the Apostles?

Yes. Contact the Columbarium Committee or Church Administrator to make arrangements for the transfer back to the church. The committee will provide you with a letter acknowledging your contribution which you may use for tax purposes.

20. What is the Perpetual Care Fund?

Funds from donations and the sale of niches in excess of the initial construction costs and associated expenses shall be maintained by the church as a perpetual care fund for the upkeep of the columbarium and gardens in Patrick’s Place.

For an application or information ,please contact the church office at 972-462-0234.

---

Rules, Policies, and Procedures Related to the

Columbarium of

Church of the Apostles Episcopal Church

322 S. MacArthur Blvd. Coppell, Texas 75019

The Columbarium of Church of the Apostles Episcopal Church (the "Columbarium", the "Church", and "Patrick's Place") has been created to provide a space for depositing ("inurnment" of) cremated remains ("cremains") of deceased Church members and other eligible persons.

Columbarium Committee (the " Committee")

The Columbarium is owned by and is part of the Church.  The Committee administers, operates, and maintains the Columbarium under a delegation of authority from the Vestry of the Church.

The Committee shall consist of three (3) persons, two (2) of who shall be members of the Church and the third shall be an ordained minister on the Church’s staff (the “minister).

The committee shall have the authority to:

*	Elect its own chairman
*	Subject to approval by he Vestry, adopt its own internal rules and operating procedures, including the dates and times of regular meetings, the procedure for calling special meetings, the establishment of a quorum, and the procedures by which votes are taken or decisions are made.  In the absence of the adoption of any such internal rules and operating procedures, the quorum shall be a majority of the Committee’s members, and actions shall be taken upon a majority vote of the Committee members in attendance.
*	Subject to approval by the Vestry and consistent with these Rules, Policies, and Procedures, establish policies for the sale of niches and the inurnment of cremains, and adopt and utilize contracts, forms and other documents necessary for or incidental to such sales and inurnments.
*	Receive proceeds from the sales of niches and make disbursement or expenditures as the Committee deems necessary for the proper administration, operation, and maintenance of the Columbarium, subject to accounting for such financial transactions to the Vestry upon request, but in any event, not less than one year.  The Committee shall also establish and maintain in the Church’s name such account or accounts with financial institutions as the Committee deems necessary in which to deposit receipts related to the Columbarium, including proceeds from the sale of niches, and from which to make the disbursements or expenditures related to the Columbarium.
*	Generally administer, operate, and maintain the Columbarium consistent with these Rules, Policies, and Procedures and the physical plan submitted to and approved by the Vestry, and maintain all records and documentation relating to the Columbarium, the sale of niches, and all inurnments in the Columbarium.

ELIGIBILITY FOR INURNMENT

Inurnment in the Columbarium shall be limited to the cremains of any member or past member of Church of the Apostles Episcopal Church, and members of his or her immediate family.  Members of his or her immediate family shall include:

*	Spouse of the member or past member,
*	Parents or stepparents of the member or past member
*	Grandparents or step-grandparents of the member or past member,
*	Children or stepchildren of the member or past member;
*	Spouses of children or stepchildren of any member or past member.
*	Any minister or former minister and his or her spouse and member of his or her immediate family, as defined above.
*	Requests for the inurnment of others may be honored if recommended by the Committee for approval by the Vestry.

FEES

The fee may be change in the future by the Committee if approved by the Vestry.  Current holders of inurnment rights will neither be reimbursed nor assessed additional costs if the fee changes.

Each niche in the Columbarium shall have a capacity of one (1) urn.  To purchase a niche, an eligible person should obtain an Columbarium Packet from the Church office.  This packet will include a copy of the Columbarium brochure, the Columbarium Rules, Policies and Procedures, and all applicable forms.  The applicant should complete all appropriate forms and submit them, with payment in full, to the Committee.  A member of the Committee will contact the applicant to insure that all information is correct and then submit the application to the Committee for final approval.  When the application is approved, the applicant ("owner") will be issued a Certificate of Right of Inurnment ("Certificate").

When an application has been approved, the applicant will contacted by a committee member.  If more than one application shall have been approved on the same date, the rights of preference shall be based on the date and time the completed applications were received.  No more niches will be sold to a family than those necessary to inurn the cremains of all eligible persons in that family, with one urn to a niche.

Whenever he or she deems appropriate, any ordained minister on the staff of the Church shall have the right to waive any part of or all the payment for a niche for anyone otherwise eligible, and who has recently died or for whom death is imminent.  This shall be done discreetly, and the niche can be selected without prejudice from any of the remaining unsold niches by the person in need or his/her survivor.

 A. Right of First Refusal.

The Committee retains the right of first refusal to purchase the unused inurnment rights from any owner of such rights at the ten current standard purchase price or the original purchase price, whichever is lower, prior to the transfer or assignment of said rights to any other owner.  Any new owner would have to meet the criteria in Article III of this document, Eligibility for Inurnment, and would be subject to approval by the Committee.

B. Removal.

Cremains remain the property of the family or estate of the deceased.  If cremains from the person listed on the Certificate have been inurned in their niche and the survivors wish to remove all the cremains, rights to the niche will revert to the Church, with no compensation due to the Owner's estate.

C. Niche Use.

No cremains may be inurned in any niche except those for persons listed on the Certificate of Right of Inurnment for that niche.

The holder of a Certificate acquires no property rights in the Columbarium, any of its niches, or any of the Church’s property.  Legal title to the Columbarium and all niches remain with the Church at all times.  The Certificate attests only to the right to inurn the cremains of the person named on the Certificate in the specific niche also state on the Certificate.  Assignment of the cremains to a specific niche shall constitute only a license to use such niche pursuant to these Rules, Policies and Procedures, as amended from time to time.  In the event of a discrepancy between the Certificate and the administrative records maintained by the Committee, the latter shall take preference.

The Church shall not willfully take any action or willfully fail to do any act that would result in the loss, destruction, or desecration of any cremains in niches.  The holder(s) of the Inurnment Rights will assume the risk of the loss, destruction, or desecration of the decedent’s cremains from any or all other causes.

The Right of Inurnment will continue as long as the present Church edifice stands and is owned by the Church.  If the present edifice is to be sold or demolished, and a replacement Columbarium will not be furnished at the new site, the Right of Inurnment will cease.  In that event, the Church will notify the Owner (or his or her legal representative or successors) that they must remove the cremains from the niche.  If no such persons remove the cremains within a reasonable time or if no such persons can be contacted with a legal time, the Church has the right to relocate the cremains as it deems proper.

The Columbarium is part of the Church and all persons in the Columbarium area are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with customary good decorum as normally observed in an Episcopal Church.  The Rector and the Committee are empowered to enforce these rules and regulations and to exclude from the Columbarium area any person(s) violating these rules and regulations.

The Church may carry such insurance for its own benefit upon the Columbarium and contents as the Committee sees fit; however, there is no obligation upon either the Church or the Committee to provide any insurance for the benefit of the holders of Inurnment Rights.

The Vestry of the Church may, at any time, amend, repeal, suspend, or waive any or all of the rules and requirements of this document.  Waiver of any rule or requirement shall not be construed, unless specifically so state by the Vestry, to constitute a continuing waiver of that rule or requirement with respect to any situation or occurrence arising thereafter

The Committee retains the right to update and amend any and all procedures as necessary for the dispatch of their duties identified in this document.  The amended rules may be made effective immediately on a majority vote of the Committee providing that notification of change is made to the Vestry.

---

Home | Visitor Information | Worship Services | Apostles Day School | Pastor's Letter | Apostles News Online | Calendar of Upcoming Events | Youth Ministries | Ministries / Programs | Resources | Archives | Photos | Prayer Request | Contact Us