ST. MEINRAD, Ind. -- Now, you too can be laid to rest in an authentic replica of the plain, wooden coffins used for more than a century to bury dozens of Benedictine monks at St. Meinrad Archabbey.
Abbey Caskets, a new marketing division of the Roman Catholic monastery and theology school in southern Indiana, opened for business last month offering one product -- caskets similar to those handcrafted by the monks for their brethren.The casket, which is only slightly more ornate than the real thing, is made from poplar and available in either a natural finish or a cherry stain. The cost is $1,750 plus shipping, with or without the optional cross inlay.
"We're not out to compete with the industry. That's not what this is about," said the Rev. Julian Peters, the division's associate director. "We have a very specific group of people to whom we think this is going to appeal."
The archabbey already operates a successful business called Abbey Press, which makes and sells religious and inspirational gifts, greeting cards and books. Monks created Abbey Press more than 130 years ago to handle in-house printing.
As with Abbey Press, profits from Abbey Caskets will be used to help support the archabbey's operation.
The monks began studying the idea of casket sales in February 1997 after years of inquiries from interested students, alumni, family members and area residents. Many liked the coffins used for interring monks at the archabbey's cemetery.
"Somebody had said, 'Why don't you sell your caskets, your coffins, the things that you guys are buried in,' " Peters said. "So we said, 'We help people to live, so it seems sensible that we should help them in death.' "
On May 10, St. Meinrad Archabbey announced the creation of Abbey Caskets. Peters isn't aware of another monk-run casket business in the United States.
The caskets being sold to the public aren't identical to the monks' coffins, which are little more than nailed-together wooden boxes with dowel rods for handles and white sheets for lining.
The Abbey Caskets product retains the same classic shape: narrow at the head and feet and wide at the shoulders. But while still somewhat plain, it offers such refinements as a nicer finish, full-size wooden handles and a fully lined cloth interior.
A customer can choose to have a cross design engraved into the casket lid. A matching cross placed in the inset can be removed before burial and retained as a family keepsake.
Local woodworkers, not monks, make the caskets. Peters said he was confident that buyers will be satisfied.
"There are people who will be attracted by the price," he said. "But we hope they will be buying it because of the quality, the authenticity, the craftsmanship and the value."
The average casket sold in America costs $2,176 and is outfitted with velvet interior inside an 18-gauge steel chamber, according to the National Funeral Directors Association.
Laura Wend, treasurer of the National Casket Retailers Association, a trade organization, said she believes the monks can carve out a niche in the marketplace. She said her own business, Affordable Casket Co., based in Southgate, Mich., hears from at least one person each week looking for a similarly austere coffin.
"As long as they can reach enough people and let them know it's available, I'm sure there's a market," Wend said.
Potential buyers can make an appointment to see display samples at Abbey Caskets, which is temporarily housed in an old storage building on the archabbey's picturesque 250-acre campus. Those unwilling or unable to make the trip can order a casket by telephone, at 1-800-987-7380, or via the Internet, at www.abbeycaskets.com.
The monks placed an initial order of 15 caskets, four of which had been sold as of this week, said Barbara Crawford, a spokeswoman for the archabbey.
"There's a certain element of confidence that it's going to be successful," Peters said.