memorialgardenhistory

St. Timothy's Episcopal Church

Memorial Garden History

In 1983 St. Timothy’s Vestry established the Memorial Garden (formerly known as the Churchyard). A 15’ x 20’ area next to the Sacristy on the north side of the Church was set aside for the burial of the ashes of deceased parishioners, members of their families and former parishioners. Under the leadership of Gloria Drouet Gorby, a marble pedestal with a bronze plaque for names of the deceased was installed and some initial plantings were put in place. On November 26, 1988, then Rector Thomason L. Newcomb presided over the first interment of ashes for Gloria’s deceased husband, David Warren Drouet and parishioner, John Waltman. As of this writing, there are now twenty four "Children of God" interred in the Memorial Garden with space for a planned total of 200 plots in the designated space.

In 1992, the Vestry approved an ambitious plan to enhance the interment area. A beautiful Memorial Garden was designed by Kim Rumford in consultation with his wife Margaret, Nan Cartwright, John Rust, Bob Meyer, Jim Grote, Jean Moffitt and Fr. Newcomb. The Garden surrounded the Churchyard with plantings of shrubs, trees and flowers, both perennials and annuals. Gayle Taintor chaired a committee that raised the necessary funds to take the plan from concept to reality. A ground breaking ceremony attended by a dozen eager St. Timothy’s volunteers was held in the spring of 1993. By the summer of 1994 all four stages of the garden design were completed by volunteers and the whole congregation attended a ceremonial blessing in the new garden on a beautiful, sunny "God Given" Sunday morning.

From that time to the present, the Garden has flourished under the caring hands of many dedicated parishioners who have added new plantings and waged a successful standoff against the rising deer population. More recently, the beauty and religious significance of the garden has been further enhanced by the memorial gift of a striking granite Celtic Cross given in memory of former parishioners, Mildred and Jack Scanlon, by daughters, Peggy Rados and Kathy Koning. In addition, two graceful marble benches were given by the current Rector, Matthew Calkins, and his mother, Marylou Walker, in memory of their children, Emma and Jane Calkins.

Reserving a Space in the Memorial Garden

The Memorial Garden is established for the interment of ashes of parishioners, families of parishioners and former parishioners. Holy Scripture speaks of "ashes to ashes and dust to dust" and cremation and interment fulfills this scriptural reality. St. Timothy’s Memorial Garden supports the desire for a resting place of serenity and beauty attached to a house of worship, ministry and prayer. Specific 1.5´ x 1´ open plots within the 15’ x 20’ area may be reserved for individual parishioners or adjoining plots for couples. Payment in full is due at the time of reservation. The present cost of reserving a plot is $750 for parishioners and $1,000 for members of parishioner’s families and former parishioners. Although individual plot markings are prohibited in the Memorial Garden, the name and date of birth and death of each person interred in the garden will be engraved on a bronze plaque and mounted permanently on top of a marble pedestal located in the Garden. The cost of this plaque will be assessed at time of interment. A Memorial Garden Directory kept in the church office shows the exact location of each interment. Also in the office is a Book of Remembrance which serves as an archive of the names, dates, obituaries, eulogies, biographies, photos, etc., of those interred as published at time of death and provided from next of kin. Any person or family wishing to arrange for the placing of ashes in the Memorial Garden may contact the Rector, a member of the Memorial Garden Oversight Committee or the parish office for more information.

Perpetual Care of the Memorial Garden

Fees received upon reservation of a plot in the Memorial Garden are placed in an encumbered fund for the perpetual care of the Memorial Garden. Next of kin and parishioners, over the years, have added to this fund in memory of loved ones or in support of the Memorial Garden concept itself. Reserving space in the Memorial Garden is a good time to remember that all Christians are called to be prudent and charitable stewards of their earthly assets. The Prayer Book directs clergy “to instruct the people, from time to time, about the duty of Christian parents to make prudent provision for the well-being of their families, and of all persons to make wills, while they are in health, arranging for the disposal of their temporal goods, not neglecting, if they are able, to leave bequests for religious and charitable uses” (BCP Page 445). In this regard, parishioners are encouraged to make St. Timothy’s a beneficiary in their wills or charitable trusts as well as a destination to consider as a permanent resting place for their earthly remains. Directed bequests are placed in the St. Timothy’s Endowment, a managed fund dedicated to supporting the mission, ministry and property of St. Timothy’s. For more information contact the Rector or members of the Vestry.