INTERMENT OF ASHES
Many Christians have decided that it is good stewardship to have their earthly remains cremated. Cremated ashes are then normally buried in the ground or interred in a columbarium niche. The St. Mark’s Church Columbarium provides this option for burial. The interment of ashes is historic. Throughout antiquity, Christians have buried their dead within the Church proper. Our Columbarium is located within our new Columbarium Chapel.

Where is the Columbarium?
The Columbarium will be in a new Chapel that is to be located on the Montauk side of St. Mark’s, between the Parish House and the Education and Office wing. The Niches will be contained in the walls of the Chapel. Anyone who has need of a niche prior to construction will be stored inside St. Mark’s Altar until they can be interred in their niche.

How do I arrange my Interment?
The St. Mark’s Church Columbarium Committee is a standing committee of the Vestry which is the governing body of St Mark’s Church. The Committee may be reached by contacting the Church Office (631-581-4950). A Committee member will explain all the necessary steps you need to take to be interred at St. Mark’s Church. First, you will need to request and review the Policies and Procedures for the St. Mark’s Columbarium. Fees must be paid, and then a niche will be assigned in your name or in the name of the applicant you submit. A Columbarium Certificate will be issued to you. Arrangements may also be made by your family at the time of death, but it makes good sense to plan ahead.

Who may be Interred at St. Mark’s?
The Columbarium may be used for anyone who has been issued a Columbarium Certificate. Priority is given to members and former members of St. Mark’s Parish, their families, and the clergy who have served St. Mark’s or the Anglican Church. Anyone may upon application to the Columbarium Committee receive consideration to be interred at St. Mark’s.

The Cost of a Interment
The Columbarium Committee has fixed the initial fee for a niche at $2,000.00. Your fee will cover the cost of the opening and sealing of the niche, the inscription of the niche plate, and the perpetual care of the cremains. A time payment schedule can be arranged if requested. Some niches may accommodate the cremains of more than one person. There is a reduction in cost of internment of the second person’s cremains in a shared niche. Please note, that the size of an urn may affect the sharing of a niche.

Where Will My Fee Go?
The first niche fees will go toward the building costs of the Columbarium Chapel. Thereafter, all fees will be placed with the Endowment Committee in the St. Mark’s Preservation Fund. This endowment fund is reserved for the perpetual care of the Columbarium, the building of additional niches in the future, and the preservation of the historic church buildings of St. Mark’s.

“I am the Resurrection and the life, saith the Lord; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” John 11:25