Through the centuries a burial place has often been provided next to the church where remains of the deceased rest beside their spiritual home on earth.
The Garden of Remembrance, established in 1985 by the First Congregational Church, provides a place for the cremains of those who have been members of this church and their families, for those who have had a caring interest in the church, and other community members wanting to be interred in the garden.
The Garden is available to all who feel a closeness to the church and its ministry and is a place for quiet meditation and renewal.
Interments
Arrangements for interment may be made through the church office and the Garden Board. The interment fee includes a brass name plate and the interment site. Interment is performed by one of FCCs clergy or other clergy pre-approved by FCCs clergy. The family is invited to help plan the service. An optional “reserve” plaque is available for the surviving spouse/family members.
Continual Support
The Garden of Remembrance is an ongoing project which requires dedicated commitment from the congregation. This commitment requires time spent not just bent in prayer but on our knees working the soil. Maintaining such a project also requires continuing financial support for perpetual care.
Your help in the Garden of Remembrance is always welcome and appreciated. For more information on FCC Gardens and Landscape, please contact the church office at 231.947.6698 or info@fcctc.org.
2020 Updates
- In March of 2020, the Garden and Landscape Board entered into a contract with Elements Studio to provide guidance and deliverables for a master plan for the garden to continue to thoughtfully build upon the excellent work established through the garden's 35 years in existence. The purpose of the new master plan is to update the garden with regard to surrounding changes to the church infrastructure and current and future garden uses, as well as to establish priorities for improvements and ongoing maintenance. Priorities identified are improved south and north entrances, a labyrinth garden, completion of the Woodland Garden, and increased community awareness of the garden.
We have been pleased with the work delivered by Elements Studio and are excited to move forward with these designs as time, weather, and pandemics permit. Please find attached renderings illustrating the design approved by the Garden Board.
Currently, research is underway as to materials specifications and procurement, and timeline, with the initial project focus to be on the south entrance to the garden. See Garden of Remembrance Renderings Here
- Thanks to the very generous efforts of Jim Ellickson, all Garden Of Remembrance interments have been catalogued on the Find-A-Grave website. Please HERE to visit the GOR page at Find-A-Grave and search for your loved one.