Columbarium: A Guide to Modern Memorial Spaces for Cremated Remains

A columbarium is a structure designed to store urns containing the cremated ashes of the deceased in separate compartments. As cremation becomes an increasingly popular choice, columbariums are emerging as a modern, space-efficient alternative to traditional burial. But what exactly is a columbarium, and why might it be the right choice for you or your loved one?

The term “columbarium” originates from the Latin word “columba,” meaning dove, as the compartmentalized design was initially used for housing doves and pigeons. The plural form for columbarium is “columbaria” or “columbariums”.

What is a Columbarium?

A columbarium is a special structure, either inside or outside, built to store the ashes of people who have been cremated. It can be found at a cemetery and can be part of a larger building like a mausoleum or a chapel, or it can be its own standalone structure. This structure typically feature rows of niches, which are similar to secured cubbyholes. These niches are where the urns, which hold the ashes, are placed. The size of niches can change; some just fit an urn, but others are big enough for personal items that meant something to the person who passed away. These niches are kept safe by protective covers called fronts, which can be made from different materials like glass, marble, or even mosaic tiles.

History of Columbariums

In both Buddhist and Roman traditions, columbariums served as repositories for cremated remains, but the origins and uses of these structures differed significantly.

Buddhist Origins

Buddhist columbariums emerged in ancient India, during the Maurya Empire around the 3rd century BC, alongside the spread of Buddhism. As Buddhism moved eastward around the 1st Century AD, columbariums became integrated with local architecture in China and Japan, often housed within pagodas, religious monuments that simultaneously served as memorials and sacred spaces for storing cremains. This practice aligned with the Buddhist belief in life’s impermanence and the cycle of birth and death.

One of the best examples of this is the Horyu-ji Pagoda in Japan, constructed in 607 AD, which served both as a religious monument and a columbarium. This was a common practice at the time – the pagodas housed sacred Buddhist relics and also had spaces specifically dedicated to storing cremains.

Roman Origins

The Romans began using columbariums around the 1st century BC, but their purpose was more communal and less religious. Roman columbariums were often large, underground structures built by wealthy families or burial societies for their members. The name “columbarium” itself comes from the Latin word “columba,” meaning “dove,” reflecting the dovehouse-like niches in these Roman structures where the urns were placed. The primary goal of Roman columbariums was to provide an economical and space-efficient method for interring remains, rather than serving as a spiritual link to the afterlife.

Modern Developments

Modern usage of columbariums in the United States has been increasingly popular since the latter part of the 20th century. In the 1960s, as the cremation rate began to rise, the demand for appropriate spaces to store cremated remains also increased.

For instance, the famed Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, a major military burial site, opened its first columbarium in 1980. This facility has been expanded multiple times and currently consists of 9 courts, offering over 60,000 niches.

Additionally, various religious institutions have embraced the columbarium model. An example is the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York, which has housed a columbarium since the later half of the 20th Century.

Beyond these, columbariums are also found in non-religious settings. The Neptune Society Columbarium of San Francisco, for example, is one of the city’s most remarkable architectural landmarks and is open to people of all faiths. Built in 1898, it’s the only non-denominational burial place within San Francisco’s city limits with space available.

Types of Columbariums

Public and Private

Public columbariums are usually larger, offering spaces for families from all walks of life. These are typically more affordable and open to the general public. Public columbariums can contain up to 1,000 or more niches. On the other hand, private columbariums are smaller, catering to a select group of people or a specific community, like a church or temple. Private options tend to be more expensive, but they may offer a more intimate setting for remembering your loved one.

Indoor and Outdoor

Another factor to consider is whether you want to choose an indoor or outdoor columbarium. Indoor columbariums are usually housed within a building or special enclosure, offering protection from the elements and a more controlled environment. Outdoor columbariums, by contrast, can be found in beautifully landscaped gardens or other open spaces, providing a serene and peaceful setting for remembrance. However, maintenance and landscaping should be considered when opting for an outdoor columbarium.

Churches and Temples

Some columbariums are located within churches, temples, or other religious institutions. Many worship centers offer columbariums as a way for their members to ensure their final resting place reflects their faith. These types of columbariums are typically exclusive to members of that particular religious community and may be housed within the main building or in a separate, dedicated space on the grounds.

Cremation and Inurnment Process in a Columbarium

Following a death, the process for using a columbarium involves several steps. Here’s a brief summary of the process:

1. Cremation: The first step is the cremation of the deceased person’s body which takes place at a crematorium. This involves using high temperatures to reduce the body to basic mineral fragments, usually in the form of ashes. A more recent alternative to flame cremation is water cremation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis or aquamation.
2. Inurnment: The ashes, also known as cremains, are then placed into an urn. This process is called inurnment.
3. Choosing a Niche: The family, or whoever is responsible for handling the deceased person’s final arrangements, will choose a niche in the columbarium. Niches can be purchased in advance of need.
4. Niche Purchase: The niche is often bought from a cemetery, funeral home, or church. Some places may include the price of a memorial plaque in the cost of the niche, while others may charge extra.
5. Placement: Once the urn is placed in the niche, the niche is typically sealed and a memorial plaque is affixed to the outside, providing the deceased’s name and dates of birth and death. This process is also known as inurnment. Inurnment is a specific kind of interment.
6. Memorial Service: Often, a memorial service or ceremony is held at the columbarium. This gives loved ones a chance to say goodbye and pay their respects.

The specific process can vary depending on different circumstances.

How Much Does a Niche in a Columbarium Cost?

Average Cost of Niches

As of 2023, the average cost of a single-person niche in a columbarium in the United States ranges between $300 and $3,000. The cheapest options are in basic, large, outdoor columbariums that contain hundreds of niches. Prices for niches at a cemetery or church are impacted by a range of factors.

Factors Affecting Cost of Niches

1. Desirability of the cemetery: The costs for niches vary widely by cemetery. Cemeteries closer to large urban centers in high cost of living areas generally cost the most. Niches at popular cemeteries can cost up to three times more than less popular cemeteries in the same area. 
2. Design of the niche: Large outdoor niches encased in a granite wall with a bronze plaque are the least expensive design options. Many indoor niches offer a glass front, which costs more. Materials like marble are more expensive than basic options. A niche in a smaller columbarium will be more expensive compared to a larger columbarium.
3. Size of the niche: Standard niche sizes are 9 inches by 9 inches by 9 inches, which is enough to fit one urn. Larger niches will cost more but can also store personal items.
4. Height of the niche: Eye-level niches in the middle of a wall will cost more than those high up or down low.
5. Number of persons: The cost varies depending on whether you want a single or multi-person niche. Niches that can hold more urns cost more​ overall, but will likely be cheaper per person.
6. Day of inurnment: The cost of inurnment is included in the cost of a niche. Choosing to have the inurnment done on a weekend can increase the cost, while choosing a less busy weekday might reduce the total price​.
7. Outdoor versus indoor: Outdoor niches are generally cheaper than indoor​.

Columbariums vs Public And Private Mausoleums

The key difference between columbariums and mausoleums is that columbariums are designed to hold cremated remains, while mausoleums are designed to hold caskets or bodies. Sometimes urns are placed in crypts in mausoleums but because of size constraints, caskets are never placed in columbariums.

Columbariums, public mausoleums, and private mausoleums are all places where we remember people who have died, but they’re used in different ways. A columbarium is for urns with ashes from people who have been cremated, and each urn goes in a small space called a niche. Public mausoleums are big buildings that hold many caskets, each one in a space called a crypt. Private mausoleums are similar to public ones but are for one person or a family, and they can be designed to have as many crypts as needed. The cost for each type goes up from columbariums to public mausoleums to private mausoleums because you’re buying more space each time.

Columbarium Design and Construction

Materials

Columbarium construction generally uses high-quality materials such as granite, marble, and bronze for longevity and aesthetics. Granite and marble are commonly used for the structure due to their durability, while bronze and glass serve as versatile options for front niches. Both bronze-front niches and glass-front niches allow for personalization and easy identification of each columbarium niche.

Niche Dimensions

Typical niche sizes vary, but a standard single niche measures approximately 9 inches cubed, i.e, 9 inches wide, 9 inches high, and 9 inches deep. Niches up to 12 inches cubed are also common. This size helps ensure that most urns or vessels can be properly stored within the niche. Some columbaria may feature larger or smaller niches to cater to different preferences and urn sizes.

The niches at Arlington National Cemetery are designed to fit two urns and have dimensions of 13 inches high, 10 inches wide and 18 inches deep.

Capacity and Footprint

The capacity of a columbarium refers to the number of niches it can hold. The footprint, on the other hand, relates to the space the columbarium occupies. For example, the largest of Arlington National Cemetery’s nine columbariums has a capacity of 20,296 niches. It has a footprint which is 540 feet long, 116 feet wide and 11 feet tall. It is almost the length of two football fields.

Columbarium Niche Personalization Options

Personalization of a columbarium niche allows for the expression of the individual’s personality and a chance to commemorate their life in a meaningful way. This usually takes the form of customizing the urn and the niche’s exterior.

• Urn Selection: Urns come in various styles, colors, and materials, including ceramic, wood, metal, and glass. Some urns can be engraved with the deceased’s name, dates of birth and death, or a personalized message.
• Niche Fronts: The niche front, or the door, can be made from a range of materials such as glass, marble, or bronze, which can also be engraved or inscribed. Glass fronts allow visitors to view the urn and any other memorabilia placed inside the niche.
• Memorabilia and Keepsakes: Depending on the size of the niche and the rules of the columbarium, small personal items may be placed inside the niche. These could include photographs, small mementos, or anything else that was significant to the deceased.
• Plaques and Inscriptions: If the niche front does not allow for inscriptions, a plaque may be placed nearby, either on a wall or stand. These can provide more space for personalized messages, quotes, or information about the deceased.
• Flowers and Decorations: Some columbariums allow for flowers or other decorations to be placed in front of the niche.

Personalization rules and options vary depending on the columbarium, so check with the facility to understand what is permitted.

Alternative Options for Storing Cremains

• Grave Burials: Cremains can be buried in a cemetery plot with headstone. This is a common practice that aligns with more traditional burial customs, while still opting for cremation. Some cemeteries also have a designated area, known as an urn garden, specifically for burying urns. Urn plots take up less space than grave plots for caskets.
• Ossuaries: Ossuaries are communal spaces for storing the remains of the dead. Traditionally they were used to store only bones. In the United States they are more commonly used for storing ashes. Ashes stored in ossuaries can be commingled or kept separate in individual bags.
• Memorial Objects: These include things like statues or memorial benches installed in public parks, in which a compartment is available to house the cremains. Benches are engraved with the deceased’s name and personalized details while serving as a resting spot for visitors.
• Family Plot or Crypt: In many cases, especially in more traditional settings, families may have an existing family plot or crypt in a cemetery. It is quite common for cremains to be interred in these existing family spaces.
• Urns at Home: Many people choose to keep the cremains in a specially designed urn at home.
• Jewelry or Keepsakes: A small portion of the ashes can be incorporated into jewelry or keepsakes.
• Tree-urns: Some cemeteries permit the planting of memorial trees or tree urns. Ashes may be scattered around the tree, or incorporated into an urn that functions as a planter box. The planter box contains the seed or seedling of tree which uses the ashes to nourish its growth.

Catholic Beliefs Around Columbariums

The Catholic faith has a preference towards traditional burial but since 1963 it has permitted cremations under certain conditions.  The Catholic Church instructs that ashes be treated with the same reverence as bodies, concerning appropriate transport and placement. The cremains should be buried or entombed, ideally in a Catholic cemetery.

This means that placing the cremated remains in a columbarium, ossuary (if kept separate), or mausoleum are all permitted options under Catholic teaching. Scattering ashes, dividing ashes, keeping ashes at home, or storing or making them into jewelry are not permitted by the Catholic Church.

Further Questions About Columbariums