Cremation rates and Columbariums in the U.S.
Updated: Jun 1, 2020
According to the National Funeral Directors Association the cremation rate in the U.S. will exceed 55% in 2020.
06/01/2020 - Cremation rates have steadily increased over the past 10 years in the U.S., Washington has the highest cremation rate at 76.4% leaving us to question: What is your church doing for members in favor of cremation?
Traditional burials have long been the standard in the U.S. but as more people become environmentally friendly and aware of the financial savings many have moved past the negative stigma surrounding cremation. There is no theological objection to cremation and its costs about a third of a traditional funeral, the problem thereafter is where can one rest their urn? Being remembered after death is something many do not think about. Imagine being cremated only to end up on a fireplace mantle? People do not ask about the urn sitting on the mantle and many urns can eventually end up in the attic. At United Methodist Church in Plano, Texas the solution rests in a columbarium.
Many churches like UMC Plano have transformed an un-used area of the church into a sanctified botanical garden or monuments for the remembrance of long-time and new members alike. These beautiful columbaria have become a staple of the church, bringing back the cradle-to-grave ministry that was lost with traditional church cemeteries. Columbarium memorial gardens ease the mind of many, giving them the option to pre-purchase a niche in a place they know and trust; while others face the unexpected costs of a burial, left with little options may seek help from the church columbarium committee.
In any case, the columbarium becomes a self-sustainable resource through funeral services and the sale of urns and engravings. “If you build it, they will come” why delay an environmentally friendly resource that can accommodate the rising cremation rate. Building costs are covered by the return-on-investment (ROI), using our columbarium design you can expect a 10x ROI per 40 niche unit! Act today and start a columbarium committee amongst your organization to discuss the potential benefits and advantages of investing in a columbarium. The cremation rate will continue to rise, and it is a perfect time to start thinking about the future.
(214) 428-1000 – info@columbariumconcepts.com - columbariumconcepts.com