Memorial Garden at St. Ann’s
In 1989, the Bishop’s Committee of St. Ann’s-by-the-Sea Church established a memorial garden located on the Church campus to serve as the final resting place of the ashes of St. Ann’s parishioners as well as the ashes of other persons having Block Island connections, including others of different faiths. The Memorial Garden, which was designed by landscape architect Harry Van Deusen, is a quiet place of respite, contemplation, and prayer.
In 2024, the St. Ann’s Bishop’s Committee adopted the following policies for the Memorial Garden.
The Memorial Garden serves as a place for the dignified burial or interment (as opposed to scattering) of cremated human remains.
Ashes may be buried in the Memorial Garden grounds without a container or buried in a biodegradable container.
Ashes may not be buried in non-biodegradable containers.
Ashes are to be buried in connection with a dignified religious service and presided over by clergy approved by the Bishop’s Committee.
Landscaping, statuary, and other furnishings of the Memorial Garden are to be approved by the Bishop’s Committee.
There is not a monetary charge associated with the interment of ashes in the Memorial Garden although a donation of $250 would be appreciated.
St. Ann’s maintains appropriate records at the Church of the names of all persons whose ashes have been buried in the Memorial Garden and the year of interment.
We envision maintaining the St. Ann’s Memorial Garden in perpetuity and we do not foresee ever closing or deconsecrating the Memorial Garden. While we cannot promise or absolutely guarantee that the Memorial Garden will exist and will be maintained in perpetuity, we are able to say this is our vision at St. Ann’s and deconsecration of the St. Ann’s Memorial Garden would occur only in circumstances of absolute necessity, after much prayerful consideration, and with great pastoral care and prayer
