A funerary chapel is a small chapel built or arranged as the final resting place for a family or a distinguished person. It combines the function of a grave with that of a consecrated space for prayer and remembrance.
Forms of the funerary chapel
A funerary chapel can occur in several ways:
- Attached to a church — as a side chapel where members of a noble or wealthy family were interred
- Free-standing in a cemetery — a monumental little building above or beside the burial vault
- As part of an estate — a private chapel for the owners of a country house
Architectural features
Funerary chapels are often richly finished and reflect the status of the client. Characteristic features are:
- A burial vault beneath the floor for the coffins or urns
- Ornate architecture in the prevailing style, from Gothic Revival to Classicism
- Stained-glass windows, natural stone ornaments and memorials
- Sometimes an altar or a memorial plaque on the wall
Maintenance and preservation
Many funerary chapels are protected as monuments. Maintenance focuses on the natural stone, the roof and the often moisture-sensitive burial vault. Damp and settlement are their greatest enemies.
Related Terms
- Chapel
- Crypt
- Mausoleum
- Gothic Revival
- Monument
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