CONSIDER THE
POSSIBILITIES
A planning guide for a church columbarium
1200 bruce street
crookston, mn 56716
800.253.0457
www.eickhofcolumbaria.com
MADE IN AMERICA
PATENTED www.eickhofcolumbaria.com
THE PLANNING GUIDE
This church columbarium planning
guide is the result of working with more
than 700 churches across the United
States for more than two and one-half
decades. Each one has been different
and it’s this uniqueness that has contributed to this planning guide.
We are of course pleased that
the Eickhof patented system
has become the standard nationally and internationally. It
combines a remarkable technology with the extraordinary
talents of skilled craftsmen.
In our discussions with churches over
the years regarding columbaria, there
have been two recurring themes: The
acknowledgement of an ever-growing
acceptance of cremation and a desire
for the family of faith to include both
the living and the deceased.
We are always pleased to
answer questions, provide
helpful information and share
our experience with those who
are contemplating a church
columbarium.
Call us: 800-253-0457
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CON SID ER THE
POSSIBILITIE S
A planning guide for
a church columbarium
As the community of faith reaches to the past
and extends far into the future, it encompasses those
who have gone before us and those who will follow.
That’s why more and more churches are seeking
tangible ways to portray the extended community of
faith.
Today, as churches have come to appreciate
more deeply the theological, environmental and
economic implications of cremation, they are making
columbaria an integral part of life of their community
of faith.
Whether within the church building or as the
centerpiece of an outdoor setting on the church
grounds, a columbarium is a meaningful way to
strengthen the bonds of the community of faith. It
sends a powerful message that the faithful are one in
life and in death.
Because a columbarium can be one more way of
fulfilling a church’s mission, we are pleased to share
our experience in working with a broad spectrum of
churches for close to 30 years.
Getting Started
You may be asking yourself why more and more
churches are finding a columbarium a meaningful
part of their ministry. From what we are told, both
laity and clergy see a columbarium as another way
to strengthen the community of faith by making the
church an even more integral part of life. Given this
mission, a columbarium serves both the deceased
and the living.
The columbarium committee
The initial impetus for a columbarium generally
comes from the pastor or a concerned layperson.
However, the idea is initiated, the next step is to bring
together a small group of parishioners who may already have an interest or who may see this as a way
to be of service.
The members of this group will want to consider
the benefits of a columbarium for their church and
they will want to make a list of questions that need
answers. They may want to visit churches that have
columbaria to see the installations and interview
administrators or committee members regarding their
experience.
Since Eickhof Columbaria, Inc. has more than 700
church installations, we can suggest churches to
contact. The committee will want to meet regularly to
discuss the possibilities.
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Location
One of the common questions is where
to locate the columbarium. Should it be
in the church building? What about in a
garden setting? Both of these are popular
options with churches today.
In parts of the country where winters
are rather mild, the outdoor columbaria
is a particularly attractive option, while
the church building itself may seem more
appropriate where winters are longer and
harsher.
There are other factors to consider
including the availability of space either
inside or outside the church. It is easy
to conclude, “We don’t have enough
room.” Yet, churches are often pleasantly
surprised when an architect or an Eickhof representative suggests more workable possibilities. The way space is used is
often more important than the amount of
space available.
How many niches?
Understandably, this is a common
question—and there’s no pat answer.
Smaller congregations start with what
might seem a large number. If the church
opens the columbarium to the community as well as members, that could affect
the number of niches to consider. One
400-member church installed 288 niches.
Even though they were planning ahead,
they also provided for future expansion.
There are other factors influencing the
number of niches. The age of the congregation is one and some churches actively
inform and educate the members. The
location of the columbarium can make a
difference, too. If it’s in a place where it’s
easily seen, that can make a difference.
All of these can impact the number of
niches to purchase.
Our experience suggests that 72 is a
minimum. Obviously, the cost per niche
drops when more are installed at the
same time.
Size of niches
A majority of churches select the 8" x
8" niche. This size holds two Eickhof bronze
urns. This means a niche can be offered
to a couple or a single person. The 8" x 8"
niche is space efficient and economical.
If desired, larger niches such as 12" x 12"
are also available.
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Payment
There are many approaches to funding a columbarium. If it is part of a larger construction project at
the church, you may include it in the overall program.
Some churches make the columbarium a special fund-raising project, while others use available
funds to cover the cost. Some columbaria are
memorials, honoring an individual or family who
donated the funds for it.
Self-funding is another approach. Since the selling price of niches is generally based on a reasonable multiple of the actual cost (see Pricing Policy),
only a portion needs to be pre-sold to assure adequate funding.
A number of churches borrow from an unrestricted fund and then repay it with proceeds from the
sale of the niches.
There are many ways to pay for a columbarium.
Pricing Policy
Professional services
For larger installations, the professional services of a
landscape or a general architect are usually needed.
Architects often recommend Eickhof to churches and
the Eickhof Company has a wonderful history of working closely with consultants.
At the same time, Eickhof makes design services
available to churches. Where churches elect to install
a columbarium of a rather straightforward design
and where cost is a consideration, these services are
generally available as part of Eickhof’s full service
program at no additional charge.
Once again, Eickhof is always pleased to share its
extensive church experience and to discuss the options with a columbarium committee.
Columbarium availability
Eligibility for purchasing niches is one of the questions columbarium committees must answer. For
one reason or another, some churches restrict use to
members and members of their immediate families,
while others have an open policy, welcoming anyone
in the community to purchase niches.
Depending on the size of the congregation, the
approved policy may influence the number of niches
purchased.
When it comes to pricing niches,
there are a number of issues to
consider. For a number of churches,
having a columbarium is viewed as
a service and a way to raise funds to
help preserve the church facilities.
As a guide for pricing niches, a
reasonable approach is to charge
four times the installed cost of the
columbarium, divided by the
number of niches.
However a committee approaches the pricing of niches, it will want to
take into consideration what other
churches and cemeteries charge.
At the same time, here are six
pricing issues that deserve attention:
∙ Pre-construction. It is common
for churches to offer niches at a
discounted price prior to the installation of the columbarium. This popular
method is often used to pay for all
or most of the overall cost of columbarium.
∙ Pre-need. Once the columbarium is installed, churches generally
offer “pre-need” pricing as an incentive for members to purchase niches
in advance.
∙ Non-members. This option allows
for charging non-members a somewhat higher price than parishioners.
∙ Discretionary. Frequently, committees set aside a certain number of
niches for what is called “discretionary” use by the pastor or the committee. There is no charge for such
niches. Discretionary niches can be
provided for those who cannot afford a final resting place.
∙ Location. You may also want to
consider the location as a pricing
factor. Using eye level as a general
guide, those niches in the areas
above and below can have a lower
price.
∙ Companion niches. Since there
is no initial cost difference between
single and companion niches, most
churches opt for the latter. If a
“double” niche is to be used by only
one person, the general practice is
to offer it at a lower price than one
where two urns are to be placed.
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Inscriptions
There are various ways to personalize the stone front of a niche
with the name of the deceased.
The preferable approach is “incising” or cutting the name and years
into the stone itself.
The Eickhof Company provides
this service. You also may have a
local monument company that
provides this same service.
Most churches have a policy
limiting inscriptions to an individual’s
full name and the years of birth and
death.
Maintenance
and upkeep
Churches are keenly aware
today of the cost of upkeep. Anything that requires consistent work
and attention can create budget
issues. Churches certainly want to
know about any ongoing expenses
associated with a columbarium.
Eickhof columbaria require no
special upkeep and only minimal
maintenance. Niche fronts are fire
and rot proof. The fronts are generally granite or marble, although
wood is sometimes selected for an
inside columbarium. Therefore, the
maintenance is the same as that for
any other church furnishings.
Outside columbaria require little
or no upkeep, other than what is
required to maintain other parts
of the church grounds. If there is a
concern about vandalism or graffiti, it’s appropriate to consider an
inside installation.
Depending on the design and
location, it may be possible to
move a columbarium.
Convenience
and ease
One of the most important factors
in selecting a columbarium is ease
of use. You want to be sure the
mechanism is such that anyone who has been authorized can open
and close the niches.
Eickhof’s patented locking
mechanism is trouble-free and
completely user-friendly.
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Administration
A minimal amount of administration is one of the benefits of a columbarium. At the same time, it does deserve
ongoing attention.
∙ The Columbarium Committee. Once the columbarium is
installed, the committee’s functions shift from planning and
installation to oversight and supervision. This often includes
establishing Rules and Regulations and planning for the
future.
Committees may also assume the responsibility for communicating with the congregation, making information
available and answering questions. In other words, keep
the parishioners informed.
∙ Administrator. Someone should have direct responsibility for keeping records, handling sales and coordinating inurnments. Sometimes this is a member of the church
office staff or a volunteer. In a number of instances, there is
a shared responsibility between an employee or volunteer
and the pastor or other member of the professional staff.
The Eickhof resource
While “Consider the Possibilities” is a
guide for helping churches plan a columbarium, we realize that it does not
answer every possible question. With
close to three decades of working with
churches, pastors and committees,
Eickhof is always pleased to share its
experience and to refer committees to
churches with Eickhof columbaria.
We invite you to contact the Eickhof
team to learn moreTelephone 1-800-253-0457
email: [email protected]
website: www.eickhofcolumbaria.com
The Eickhof Columbaria Company has
been designing and installing columbaria in churches across the United
States for close to 30 years.
Cour tesy o f C r e m a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n o f N o r t h A m e r i c a
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