Funerals at Christ Church

As the body of Christ, the death of one brings sorrow to us all. The clergy, staff, and other members of Christ Church stand ready to support you in every way possible when death happens in your family. Please contact the Church, 704-333-0378, as soon as possible following a death. Burial from the Church is encouraged and a Memorial Garden for the interment of ashes is available for those desiring it. There is a fee to cover the cost of the brass plaques commemorating those persons whose ashes are buried in the garden.

Death is an inevitable part of life, and yet most of us are unprepared for it when it happens in our family. It is most often a time of great sorrow when our instincts and emotions are at the fore, and our capacity and desire to make practical and rational decisions are diminished. Death is something we all need to prepare for and Christ Church stands ready to help guide you and your family through this important and difficult time, whether that means planning ahead of time or planning when a loved one dies. Most of the practical issues that arise at the time of death are handled by a funeral home or crematorium, but be mindful that costs vary tremendously.

Beyond the practical issues, death is a spiritual time. A service of Christian burial is a way of celebrating not only the life of a loved one now ended, but also the new life she/he has begun in eternity. Burial services are services of the resurrection, focusing on the fact that as Christ has been raised from the dead, we too, are raised to eternal life. Planning your own funeral with the assistance of the clergy and having these plans on file in the church office is a deeply faithful and meaningful act. We encourage you to do so.

The Episcopal Church has recognized cremation as a Christian form of burial for many years. The Memorial Garden of Christ Church is designed to provide appropriate space for the interment of ashes of deceased members of Christ Church. The location of the Garden is between the church and the parish house and was chosen so that it might be in the midst of the ongoing life of the parish.  

Click here for forms that may be helpful with the planning of funerals.