When we were asked to design and install a place for a columbarium at St. Anthony’s Episcopal church, I was not sure if it would blend in with the existing grounds, which are natural and rustic. Only after we finished the project, did I see how beautifully the polished black marble tiles reflects the surroundings!
The church in Winder, GA is nestled in an established neighborhood welcomes the community to visit their outdoor chapel, Stations of the Cross, Joyce’s Garden (a walking trail), and a labyrinth, which we installed six years ago. The original plan was to bury cremations in the ground around the labyrinth. But the congregation recognized that in today’s world churches move and even close. So they wanted the cremains to be portable and identifiable.
The labyrinth has become the center of the church grounds. Neighbors, police patrolling the neighborhood, and children getting off the school bus come to visit and walk the path. People even stop by to eat lunch and enjoy the peace, and meditate on the labyrinth.
The church committee decided to locate the columbarium above the labyrinth.
All of our masonry projects are designed using 3D renderings. It is especially important to communicate clearly when working with a committee so everyone has a clear picture of what the finished project will look like.
We took the design phase a step further and made a full scale model of the columbarium with black plastic and wood. The congregation had a few weeks to view it from inside the church and from the parking lot before breaking ground on the project.
The columbarium rests above the labyrinth, sheltered in a circular seating wall with paving. Working with Claudia, the committee chair, has been a pleasure. She managed both the labyrinth and columbarium projects, doing the fundraising, and keeping me on track to design and build the maximum project with a realistic budget for the church. She got it done!
