Memorial Garden

THE SETTING OF THE GARDEN

The Pilgrim Memorial Garden is intended as a place for meditation and reflection, with flowering shrubs and trees, benches, and a view of the woods beyond the garden. The centerpiece of the garden is a stone wall, separating the garden from the woods. To this wall are attached several plain bronze plaques, on which name plaques for those memorialized in the garden are fastened.

It is a quiet spot for relaxation and thought. Some may wish to scatter ashes of a loved one in the garden; and some will wish to memorialize a loved one there by arranging for a name plaque to be placed on the wall. For those wishing a name plaque, we ask for a contribution of a set amount, to cover the cost of the plaque and to provide for future maintenance of the garden.

The plaques themselves are simple, consisting of the name and dates of the person memorialized.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

1. Scattering of ashes is permitted, but not burial of ashes, due to Conservation Commission restrictions.
2. An interment service may be arranged with the minister. The Garden Committee need not be involved with these arrangements. Use of the garden for other events is subject to the approval of the minister and/or the committee.
3. Floral arrangements, plants, and other decorations are not to be placed in the garden, except temporarily in connection with an interment service. For those wishing to memorialize a loved one with flowers, providing flowers for a church worship service is an appropriate alternative.
4. There will be no special markings or plantings for any individual.
5. Name plaques are available to members and friends of Pilgrim Church.
6. No names of pets will be accepted.
7. The contribution required for each name plaque is currently set at $600.
8. In most cases, each name plaque will contain a single name with dates, such as: Jonathan A. Jones, 1923-1996. In some cases, however, the donor may wish to have two names on a single plaque, with both sets of dates. All name plaques will use the same font style and size; no titles such as Mr., Mrs., Rev., Gov., Dr., etc. will be used. The number of characters available on each plaque is 29. (Spaces count as characters.)
9. A living person may purchase plaques for a deceased person and him- or herself, with the proviso that the first plaque should be placed on the wall immediately, and space saved directly beneath this plaque for the second one, which will be cast and placed on the wall when the donor passes on. Apart from this provision, no request can be entertained for a particular placement of a name plaque.
10. If a living person should wish to have both his or her name and the name of the deceased person on the same plaque, that is also acceptable, but the plaque cannot of course be cast and placed on the wall until both persons have passed on.
11. Corresponding to each name plaque, there will be available a page (front and back) in the Book of Memory. Use of this page is optional. Acid-free paper, photo mounts, and pen will be supplied to the person assembling the page.
12. Persons wishing to arrange for a name plaque should contact the church office, which will refer them to a member of the Garden Committee.