For centuries, Christians have honored their loved ones with dignified final resting places in churchyards on their grounds. In this tradition, Westminster’s new Memorial Garden provides a place of repose and remembrance in a lovely sacred garden where one can peacefully meditate upon the lives of those who have died.

Located just outside the sanctuary, the Memorial Garden is an integral part of Westminster’s ministry at the end of life. It provides a beautiful, meaningful place where members and their families can proceed directly from a memorial service to inter a loved one near their church home. In celebration of God’s everlasting promise, the Memorial Garden provides spiritual comfort and a permanent place to contemplate life eternal.

Columbarium
The word columbarium comes from the Latin word “columba,” meaning dove. It formerly referred to a dovecote, and in Roman times came to mean compartments for keeping cinerary urns. Westminster’s Columbarium has 660 niches, where urns containing cremated remains are interred. Each niche has the capacity to hold two urns. The niches are sealed with engraved limestone fronts showing the name and life dates of those interred within. An inviting bench allows time for contemplation.

Memorial Wall
The Memorial Wall is located near the Columbarium. Made of beautiful cream-colored limestone, it is a dignified memorial to those whose names are simply and elegantly engraved upon it. The Memorial Wall provides Westminster members an opportunity to remember those they love who may be interred elsewhere. Names will be engraved on the Memorial Wall in the order received.

Terms
The Memorial Wall engravings and Columbarium niches are available to current Westminster members and their families, spouses or partners. The Memorial Garden is available for visits on Sunday mornings or during regular church business hours.

Pricing for the Columbarium is listed separately and includes urns, niche, engravings, choice of niche location, interment by a Westminster pastor, opening and closing of the interment space, record-keeping, and Garden maintenance in perpetuity. It does not include the cost of cremation.

Pricing for the Memorial Wall includes engraving, record-keeping, and Garden maintenance in perpetuity. An agreement outlining the details of location and text will be provided upon completion of an application.

We encourage Westminster members to make arrangements as a part of end-of-life planning in conjunction with pastoral consultation. For more information, details, or to arrange for purchase of a niche or name on the Memorial Wall, contact a Westminster pastor or Sam Cooke at 612.332.3421.

FAQ
Click here to read questions that are often asked about the Memorial Garden .

Price List
Click here to view the pricing options for the the columbarium and Memorial Wall.