The west columbarium on the left was built in 2003 and the north columbarium on the right is double-sided, built in 2012.

Who may be inurned in the columbarium?

St. Barnabas Lutheran Church members, past members, members of their immediate families or close relatives are eligible for inurnment.

Purchasing a columbarium niche

Each full niche is $2,500 which includes two bronze urns, the engraving of the urns and granite face with names and dates along with care in perpetuity.  A half niche costs $1,250 which includes one bronze urn, the engraving of the urn and granite face with names and dates along with care in perpetuity. When you are ready to purchase, contact Brenda in the church office.  She will give you a tour and answer any questions you may have about the columbaria.  A payment schedule can be set up.

I only need space for one person.  What are my options?

A full niche may be purchased for one urn.  In this case, the church does not have the right to sell the second half.  There is an option to purchase a half niche.  When you purchase a half niche, the sale of the second half is at the discretion of the congregation.

What is a columbarium?

A columbarium is a collection of niches (small compartments each with a lockable door) designed to house urns containing cremated human remains.  The word “columbarium” comes from the Latin word for a dovecote, or pigeon holes. St. Barnabas has two columbaria.  The original is single-sided and has 54 niches.  The second is double-sided with 108 niches.  With each niche able to hold two urns, these columbaria have the potential to be the final resting place for over 300 individuals.

Where is the St. Barnabas columbarium located?

The columbaria are set on a granite plaza, nestled in a memorial garden behind the church building.  The columbarium plaza is accessible from the east side of the parking lot. 

History of the St. Barnabas columbarium

The idea for a St. Barnabas columbarium originated from Pastor Wayne’s visit to Europe during his sabbatical in the summer of 2000.  Walking through church buildings that were 300-800 years old, he realized that some day St. Barnabas would be 100 years old...and 200 years old and more!  It dawned on him that St. Barnabas should start making plans with the mindset that it is going to be around for a long time! Many of these European churches had cemeteries on the church grounds — or even inside the building!  The cemeteries are a constant reminder that the church transcends time — the “communion of saints” includes all generations.

The first St. Barnabas columbarium was built in 2003 and a second was added in 2012.  The plaza is designed to expand to hold four columbaria — enough space to potentially be the resting place of over 750 people.