Boulevard Baptist Church establishes columbarium garden

WITH CEMETERIES in the Kingston and St Andrew metropolitan region fast running out of public burial spaces, there is an alternative for the final resting places of loved ones. There is now a columbarium garden at the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew where cremated remains can be stored.

The space was handed over on Saturday, June 29 by Rolborne Barrett, local committee and project manager, dedicated by Reverend Sydney Hall (chairman, Meadhaven Ministers’ Fraternal), and will be under the management of church member Michael Dowe. It was conceptualised while Barrett was chairman of church property, and became a reality with the help of Jean Treasure and Joy Parish.

“I was chosen to close this innings, not because I am the least batter, but because I have a little more knowledge of why we are here today. We are here today to dedicate this columbarium garden that will afford the opportunity to serve our churches along with the wider community by providing a safe, comfortable and attractive place of rest for the dearly departed,” Barrett told the gathering.

A columbarium is a special structure, a sepulchre structure containing small niches for cinerary urns. The term comes from the Latin, columba, which means dove or pigeon. So, it looks like a pigeon house. The columbarium at Boulevard Baptist Church consists of four rectangular ceramic block structures, each of which contains 12 niches. Each niche can host more than one urn. But, why a columbarium? Why not keep the urns in a private, familial space?

“With the ever-increasing restriction on space and distance of final resting places, the pastor and church council have reserved this area for cremated remains. While the practice of cremation has a long history, it is slowly growing in Jamaica. Baptist churches now allow cremation, and the cremens may be laid to rest in a respectful manner. In death, as in life, we remain in God’s hands,” Boulevard Baptist Church says.

In the printed ‘Dedication of a columbarium’, Boulevard Baptist Church writes, among other things, “In their columbaria, Christians bury or maintain, show due honour to the bodies, not only of their brothers and sisters in faith, but all those made in the image of God who had died, and to whom they are bound by the ties of humanity. In shedding his blood on the cross for all, Christ has redeemed us all.

“In becoming one with us in taking on human flesh, Christ has made holy the human body that is honoured as a temple of the Holy Spirit. In hope of resurrection, the Church has always kept its dead nearby, building the first churches is near the graves of the saints, and later surrounding church buildings with the graves of the faithful.”

Other participants in the brief ceremony were Deacon Lassom McDermott (church administrator), Deacon Verna Edwards, Ashley Clarke (church secretary), Nathan Beckford, Candice Walker, Reverend Derrick Saddler (officiant), and Deacon Phyllis Jarrett.

To reserve a space, application may be sent to the church office and may be made prior to the death of the subject, or thereafter by the next of kin, legal or personal representative or someone having a special relationship with the deceased. According to Boulevard Baptist Church, it is “an investment you will never live to regret”.

Boulevard Baptist Church is located at 2 Washington Boulevard, Kingston 20, and may be reached at 876 905 2422, 876 905 0118, 876 925 5329; boulevardbaptist.org.jm; or boulevard.baptist@gmail.com.