Minister’s Message – Quarterly Connection, Feb 2026
Dear Ones, The first time I ever led worship in our gorgeous sanctuary, there was only a handful of people in the room as I…
In the early 2000s, the Churchyard Committee created the Garden of Remembrance in the churchyard behind the Sanctuary. Designed as an alternative way to memorialize members of our church community, the garden features a small lawn panel with a burning bowl surrounded by tall marble plinths engraved with the names, birth dates, and death dates of beloved members. Over time, these plinths have reached their capacity and can no longer accommodate additional inscriptions.
Thanks to a generous donation from the late Betty Fullarton, the church was able to develop the Gathering Space—a brick walkway leading from the Garden of Remembrance through the area affectionately known as the “Jungle.”. Granite steps and curbing guide visitors to a raised, semi-circular brick area, which also features a burning bowl.
Further vision for the churchyard became possible through a gift from the late Fabian Schupper, which funded the creation of a Churchyard Master Plan. Phase I of that plan is currently underway and includes the completed parterre and the reconstruction of the memorial walkway. This summer, Phase I will continue with the transformation of the Gathering Space into an additional memorial garden named The Open Space. The new space will include marble plinths that match the originals, a burning bowl, and benches for reflection.
The Open Space will offer a peaceful, contemplative setting, buffered on three sides by plantings and oriented toward the Sanctuary and Steeple.
It will serve as a place of remembrance for current and past members, ministers, and their spouses or life partners, as well as parents, grandparents, children, and grandchildren. The initial phase will include four new plinths, with a total of 18 planned over time.
To reserve an inscription on one of the Open Space plinths, there is an application and fee of $500, plus the cost of engravings. The $500 fee supports the Churchyard Maintenance Endowment Fund (held at the Coastal Community Foundation) to ensure the perpetual care of the Open Space and surrounding grounds.
For those who reserve an inscription before the end of April 2026, the engraving cost is $125. After installation, the cost will increase to $395 per inscription.
To request an application form (one is required for each person), please contact Lily Colburn at 843-723-4617 or lily@charlestonuu.org. Reservations are confirmed once payment is received and the application is signed by Rev. Rebecca.
If you would like to view the full Churchyard Master Plan, Lily would be happy to assist you.
