Sacred space: Downtown church dedicates new columbarium

The Rev. Susan Pate Greenwood, center in red, speaks during the consecration service for Centenary United Methodist Churchs new Columbarium and Memorial Garden.

New Berns Centenary United Methodist Church dedicated its new Columbarium and Memorial Garden Sunday after nearly five years of planning, design and construction.

The Rev. Susan Pate Greenwood, the churchs senior pastor, conducted a ritual of consecration following Sundays worship service in the small garden fronting New Street. About 150 people attended the event, which followed the 11 a.m. church service.

The beautifully landscaped memorial garden has four benches and underground niches for urns covered with granite nameplates line. Above-ground niches are in two locations.

Speaking briefly to a group that filled the new garden and spilled over onto adjacent areas, Greenwood said the columbarium and celebratory event were only possible because of the dogged determination, tenacity and generosity of a few dedicated church members who longed for a sacred place for the ashes of their loved ones.

She praised the committee that worked on getting both church council and New Bern Historical Preservation Committee approval, and she expressed appreciation for the help of neighboring Christian communities who shared information about their columbaria, including Garber United Methodist Church in Trent Woods, and neighboring First Presbyterian Church and Christ Episcopal Church.

Greenwood had special recognition for Mary Cox Bullock, who was a guiding force of the Centenary Columbarium and Memorial Garden.

Her many years of faithful and diligent labor made it possible, the pastor said.

Bullock worked for more than 14 years, through several different committees and church councils, which tabled the proposal, before seeing the Centenary Columbarium and Memorial Garden become a reality.

After the dedication, Bullock brushed off the praise, saying, It was just persistence and my big mouth.

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Sacred space: Downtown church dedicates new columbarium