A Columbarium is structure composed of niches designed to house urns containing human remains (cremains), inscribed with the persons’ names and dates of birth and death. Columbaria are constructed to serve as permanent structures in our cemetery.

The Columbarium has been constructed to provide an alternative for the entombment of cremains as there is an increasing awareness of the benefits of cremation. In 2019 the cremation rate in Nova Scotia was estimated to be 72% and approximately 50% in St. Ninian’s parish. Through the Columbarium, the St. Ninian’s Cemetery will provide its parishioners a dignified, beautiful setting for the housing of cremains, all at an overall considerable cost saving.

A niche is the compartment of the Columbarium, which contains the urns of ashes and is reserved by persons purchasing a “Right of Use”. This is a legal term that reflects the fact that a person cannot “buy” any portion of church property. You do not “own” the niche but only purchase the “Right of Use”. Niche size is 12” X 12” X 14” for the housing of two urns.

Inurnment in the St. Ninian’s Columbarium is ordinarily limited to present or past parishioners of St. Ninians’ Parish and members of their immediate families. Requests for entombment of others, including those from other parishes, may be considered.

There are 60 niches in the current Columbarium, each with the capacity to hold two urns of appropriate size and shape to fit. Urns must consist of non-biodegradable materials. As demand dictates, there is capacity to add four additional columbaria of 47 niches each at existing site.

The Columbarium is being financed by the Cemetery Care Company from the sale of niches.

Each niche, holding up to two urns, costs $1,975 (No HST). This cost includes opening and closing the niche for entombment and perpetual care. It does not cover the cost of inscriptions for the plaque, which are the responsibility of the purchaser.

These funds will be utilized for the operation of the Columbarium, landscaping, perpetual care and the financing of additional Columbaria as demand dictates.

Future plans call for the installation of four granite benches and eventual construction of four additional columbaria as demand dictates.

Niche assignments are controlled by the Cemetery Care Company, through the Perpetual Care Officer, and are allocated in accordance with the desires of each purchaser on a first-come, first-served basis, determined by the date of a paid-in-full receipt.

The purchaser should inform the Parish office of their decision so that the niche can be re-allocated. The purchaser will be reimbursed 90% of the cost with the Parish maintaining 10% to cover administrative costs and possible replacement of any plaques that may have been already engraved.

The payment you may have made for other burial arrangements in the cemetery can be utilized against the cost of purchasing a niche in the Columbarium.