Columbarium
A columbarium is a permanent structure with niches or compartments designed to hold the urns containing the ashes of loved ones. The word "columbarium" comes from Latin and originally referred to compartmentalized housing for doves and pigeons, or a dovecote.
The Preston Hollow Presbyterian Columbarium, located in the memorial garden just north of the chapel, was designed and landscaped to complement the beauty of our church building and grounds. With 912 niches located in the garden, we are blessed to be able to offer this space to our members and their families.
If you have additional questions not answered on this page, please contact Debbie Tunnel at Debbietunnell4@gmail.com or 214-695-2714.
Benefits of a Columbarium
Our columbarium allows our members and their families the opportunity to have their final resting place within the shadow of the church that has been a central part of their lives. This sacred site of beauty and dignity is a place where loved ones can visit and meditate any time.
The columbarium eliminates the pressures of choosing a burial site, casket, vault, and monument. Planning the interment and memorial services is also much simpler since it can all be at one location.
The costs of cremation and a niche in the columbarium are significantly less than the costs of a casket, burial site, and marker.
Purchasing a Niche
A copy of the application and the rules and policies of the columbarium are both available as a downloadable .pdf under the Resources header to the right. Return completed applications to the address listed on the application form. Once the application is approved, a certificate covering inurnment ownership rights will be sent to the purchaser.
If you purchase a niche and decide not to use it, we will repurchase the niche for the original selling price. Once the niche has been used, no refund will be made. A niche cannot be sold or transferred and may only be used by those listed in the original purchase.
Fees
The fee for a niche is $1,500. This fee includes the urns, the plaques inscribed with name and dates of birth and death, the opening and closing of the niche for inurnment, and perpetual care. Each niche is designed to hold two urns. This fee does not cover the cost of cremation.
Selecting a Niche
Niche assignments are allocated in accordance with the desires of each applicant on a first-come, first-served basis.
Planning your Inurnment
One of the most loving gifts you can leave your family is having already arranged for your memorial service and cremation. Any one of our ministers is happy to assist you in planning your memorial service and will keep your wishes on file at the church. For more informaiton about preplanning your service, contact the administrative assistant for congregational care Judson Watkins at jwatkins@phpc.org or 214-368-6348, ext. 113.
Choosing a funeral home for cremation need not be a difficult task. To assist you, a sampling of funeral homes offering cremation services, with their prices, is available by clicking the link to the right under Resources.
