This feature requires Macromedia Flash Download Here

Worship

Columbarium Papers

Columbarium Agreement
St. Francis Episcopal Church, Potomac Parish

In return for the right to inter in the Columbarium, the Subscriber(s) agree(s) to pay according to the following schedule for each niche purchased:
  • Onetime payment in full: $3000.00    
         or
  • Installment payments: $1200.00 down payment;  
    balance to be paid in three installments of $600.00 at
    6-month intervals thereafter.

The right to inter accrues upon payment in full and entitles the subscriber(s) to two urns each in niche(s) numbered ____ as designated on the Columbarium Plat. The urns must be appropriately sized for the niche. These urns are designated for:

____________________________________   __________
Full Name                                                    Birthdate

____________________________________   __________
Full Name                                                    Birthdate

______________________________________________
Purchaser’s Postal Address

_____________________________________
Purchaser’s Email Address

This agreement is subject to the attached “Regulations and Conditions Governing the Use of the Columbarium” and such other applicable regulations as may be adopted by the Vestry of St. Francis Episcopal Church, Potomac Parish, as may be amended from time to time.

By: ____________________________________   _______
     For St. Francis Episcopal Church                     Date

_______________________     _____
Title                                       Date

Subscriber(s):
__________________________________   ________
                                                               Date
__________________________________   ________
                                                               Date

Agreement Format Revised October 16, 2007



REGULATIONS AND CONDITIONS
GOVERNING THE USE OF THE
COLUMBARIUM IN THE EASTER GARDEN

The use of the Columbarium and the allotment of niches therein are governed by the Vestry of St. Francis Episcopal Church, Potomac, Maryland (hereinafter referred to as “the Church”), subject to the following regulations and conditions:
   1. Reservation of the right to inter in a niche in the columbarium is made when a Columbarium Agreement is signed by both an authorized Church representative and subscriber. The Agreement contains payment options. If payment is not made within 90 days of the time specified in the Agreement, the subscriber will forfeit and relinquish the right to inter in the assigned niche until payment in full is received. Upon request, a subscriber wishing to forfeit will be reimbursed for payments previously made less a $500 reservation fee.
   2. Capacity of each niche is limited to two urns with a maximum size of 8” x 4 1⁄4” x 6” unless otherwise indicated on the Columbarium Agreement and approved by the Church. In appropriate circumstances the Church, acting through the Rector, may permit a son or daughter to be interred in a niche in a third urn with its parent. The space for each urn is a “unit” of a niche. Inscriptions on the stone tablets (covers) of niches shall be on a bronze plaque sized 10” x 3” and will be limited to the name, date of birth and date of death of the deceased. Names shall be without “title” or “nickname.” Lettering is standardized for all plaques.
   3. Cremated remains may not be removed from the Columbarium without written consent of the Church and the surviving spouse or the next of kin of the deceased. If such consent cannot be obtained, the remains may not be removed except as provided in paragraph 13 following.
   4. The use of a niche shall be limited to the cremated remains of such persons as are designated in writing by the subscriber at the date of issuance of the Columbarium Agreement. Such designation may be changed by the subscriber during his lifetime by written notice to the Church or at his death by an appropriate designation in his last will and testament admitted to probate, unless such admission to probate shall have been waived by the Church. The right to inter shall not pass by any residuary or other general clause of a will unless specific reference is made to such right.
   5. If a niche is voluntarily vacated or the right to inter is relinquished, all rights with respect to such niche revert to the Church, which will refund subscriber payments less a $500 reservation fee.  If no units in a niche are to be used (or are not effectively designated) all rights with respect to such niche revert upon the death of the subscriber (or his designee) to the Church.
   6. If a unit of a niche wholly subscribed for by one subscriber or by joint subscribers has been used, failure to designate full capacity of the niche shall not cause reversion to the Church, but the unused portion shall be closed to further interments.
   7. If any niche is not used within 75 years of allotment and the family is no longer known, the Church will be free to re-allot such niche.
   8. Transfer, bequest or change of the right to inter shall not be made without approval of the Church, and shall not be effective until entered in the Columbarium Register.
   9. The Church reserves the right to refuse to accept an urn which, in its judgment, will not provide permanent interment, or will not permit use of the niche to its stated capacity, or for any other reasonable grounds.
   10. The Church will arrange for the opening and closing of niches at time of interment.
   11. The Church will not supply urns or any engraving thereon. It will arrange, on due request, for the acquisition and placement of up to two bronze plaques on the tablet (cover) of a niche, at the cost of such work. The costs of the plaques will be paid by the subscriber.
   12. The use of any ornamentation on or proximate to any niche by any subscriber is prohibited except as follows:
     a. Cut flowers, live plants, and (seasonally) wreaths
         may be displayed on niche covers provided they are
         tastefully presented, properly cared for, and 
         conform to the natural décor of the Columbarium as 
         a whole.
     b. Niche ornamentation which, in the judgment of the
         Church, is not in conformance with the above may    
         be removed by the Church.
     c. Individual plantings in the Columbarium are not
         permitted without prior written approval of the
         Columbarium Committee of the Vestry.
   13. The Church will endeavor to protect all urns deposited in the Columbarium, assuming such responsibility with respect to them as it affords its own property.
   14. In the event this Parish is moved to a different location, it shall be the responsibility of the Church to provide facilities equal to those now existing for the re-depositing of urns committed to its care and the Church shall make every reasonable effort to locate and notify surviving heirs as to the new location.
   15. In the event that the present Church edifice is demolished or the ownership of the Church property is transferred, or the Columbarium is discontinued, (a) the right to inter shall terminate without any refund to existing subscribers; (b) the Vestry or its successors shall exercise all reasonable effort to locate and notify surviving heirs and afford them the opportunity to remove the urns; and (c) the Vestry or its successors shall not otherwise dispose of the urns within three years after the Columbarium is discontinued for any reason.
   16. Ordinarily, a subscriber shall be a canonical member (defined as a baptized person whose name is entered on the rolls of the Church) of the St. Francis parish for at least two years before making application for allotment of a niche in the Columbarium. All designees should be of a spousal, parental, or offspring relationship.
   17. The Church may from time to time set aside a limited number of niches for use by non-canonical members at the discretion of the Rector with the advice and consent of either the Senior or Junior Warden.
   18. The current and former Rectors of the Church may reserve a niche for themselves and their spouses without charge providing such reservation is made at a time when at least one niche vacancy exists.
   19. Financial and historical records for the columbarium will be maintained in the business office of the Church.
   20. These regulations may be altered, amended, or repealed by the Vestry. They were adopted by the Vestry of St. Francis Episcopal Church, Potomac, Maryland at a regular meeting on September 18, 2007.

Original: March 21, 1972; amended 1979, 1993, 1998, 2007.