Entrance Construction
BIGELOW CHAPEL AND
CREMATORY
I n 2016, Mount Auburn’s trustees approved an
opting to participate in the cremation process
may gather to watch as the casket enters the
crematory retort.
ambitious plan to revitalize Bigelow Chapel, seeing
the project as a disciplined investment in the
Cemetery’s core business activity, which will support
Mount Auburn’s current initiatives and its business
plan. Working with the award-winning architecture
firm William Rawn Associates, we have designed
and are now constructing a new crematory and a
graceful addition to the historic Chapel that will
offer a space for personalized and meaningful private
gatherings. Referencing the founding vision that
nature be used to console the bereaved, the addition
features floor-to-ceiling glass that visually connects
visitors within the space to the beautiful and
meditative landscape outside. Within the addition,
families will be able to hold private memorial
services or host receptions following a service
in a room overlooking Asa Gray Garden. A new
entrance providing universal access will graciously
welcome everyone arriving to attend a private family
service or a public event. New multi-use gathering
spaces will provide numerous options for intimate
memorial services in a non-denominational setting,
informal receptions following services or burials, and
a host of public events.
The new Crematory and addition to Bigelow
Chapel have been carefully designed to respect the
historic significance and integrity of the building.
While construction proceeds, the Chapel’s Great
Rose Window is being restored. Located over the
entrance door to the Chapel, the large window
is an important example of early stained glass in
this country and one of the Chapel’s defining
architectural features.
The Great Rose Window was commissioned in
1845 by Jacob Bigelow as part of his original design
for Bigelow Chapel. Bigelow selected the firm of
Ballantine and Allan from Edinburgh, Scotland to
furnish the colored and leaded glass, and to work
with him on the design. The Great Rose Window is
an important record of the firm’s early production
and was among the first colored glass shipped to the
United States by Ballantine and Allan.
Over the years the windows glass panels have bowed
and cracked, and previous waterproofing repairs
obscured the delicate painted glass designs. Urgently
in need of restoration, the fragile glass panels were
carefully removed from their historic cast-iron frame
in August 2017 and were transported to the studio of
Serpentino Stained & Leaded Glass Inc. in Needham,
MA, where they will be restored with oversight
from Consultant Julie Sloan and Mount Auburn’s
preservation and curatorial staff.
A modern, state-of-the-art Crematory, replacing
an existing but outdated facility, will prepare
Mount Auburn for the growing public interest in
cremation and ensure the institution’s place as a
21st century leader within the cemetery industry.
New equipment, offering faster cremation times and
improved fuel efficiency, will greatly improve the
quality of its cremation services while supporting
the Cemetery’s commitment to being a model of
environmental stewardship. A clean, modern space
will welcome funeral directors and accommodate
family participation in the actual cremation process.
The highlight of Mount Auburn’s new Crematory
is its new Viewing Room. Within this space, families
The photographs to the right depict the
construction progress that occurred during FY2018.
The project will be completed during FY2019.
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