Chapel of Rest

Once we’ve taken your loved one into our care, it will be up to you whether you want to visit them in our Chapel of Rest facilities or not. Our caring professionals are more than happy to give you the support and advice you need when deciding whether to arrange a visit.

What is a Chapel of Rest?

A Chapel of Rest is a remembrance room often found in funeral homes where you can visit your loved one and pay your final respects before the funeral service.

Should I visit the Chapel of Rest?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. You don't have to visit the Chapel of Rest if you don't want to. While many people see this as a chance to say a final goodbye to their loved ones and to aid the grieving process, others prefer to remember them as they were. If you’re unsure, you might find it reassuring to speak to your funeral director, who may be able to offer some advice and explain more about what to expect when visiting a Chapel of Rest.

If the cause of death means that a visit would be distressing, or if their death were caused by a hazardous illness, you should seek the advice of your funeral director.

What to expect at a Chapel of Rest?

Many people are worried about visiting a Chapel of Rest because they are unsure what to expect. The following questions will help to explain what to expect if you visit your loved one before the funeral. Your funeral director will be happy to answer any more questions.

What does a Chapel of Rest look like?

Although the exact look will vary at different funeral homes, all of our Chapel of Rest facilities are private rooms which are designed to be peaceful and tranquil. Great care will be taken to ensure that your loved one looks peaceful and at rest when you see them. The room can be personalised to reflect the life of your loved one by including a photo.

How many times can I visit the Chapel of Rest?

You may wish to visit once, though you can also visit regularly during the time before the funeral.

How do I arrange to visit the Chapel of Rest?

You will need to speak to your funeral director, who will be happy to arrange a suitable date and time for you to visit, this is usually a couple of days before the day of the funeral. It is important to make an appointment so that the Chapel of Rest is available for you to use and your loved one is prepared for your visit.

Who can visit a Chapel of Rest?

Generally speaking, the decision about who can visit the Chapel of Rest is down to the deceased’s family or the person(s) arranging the funeral. Your funeral director will be happy to speak to you about this in more detail.

Can children visit a Chapel of Rest?

There is no legal reason why children cannot visit a Chapel of Rest. This decision can only be taken by parents, but this can cause further distress and grief. Your funeral director will be on hand to give you advice and guidance. 

Equally, deciding whether to take a child to a funeral will be based on several factors – their age and level of understanding, the nature of the death, how difficult the funeral might be and whether you think the child can be well supported. 

Can I visit the Chapel of Rest on the day of the funeral?

We are happy to arrange visits to the Chapel of Rest in the days before the funeral. However, we do try to avoid scheduling visits on the day of the funeral itself, to ensure that we have adequate time to get the deceased to the venue or procession start point in time for the funeral to take place.

Can I take photos in a Chapel of Rest?

There is no policy in place that prevents you from taking photos. For some, this is an important part of saying goodbye. However, it is important that you have the permission of the next of kin, or person organising the funeral. Please also consider what you plan to do with the photos and be respectful to ensure that you do not upset or offend others.

An example of a Chapel of Rest

Below is a walk-through of the Chapel of Rest at Dignity’s Dinnington Care Centre, a specialist funeral centre to care for your loved one after they have passed away.

All of our funeral homes have a private Chapel of Rest. We also have one at the Care Centre, which you can explore using this 3D walk-through.

Click on the play button to open the walk-through, and minimise the burgundy message which reads ‘Chapel of Rest’ using the small arrow on the left. Straight ahead, you’ll see a pink play button. Watch the video, and then take your time to look around and click on the yellow interactive icons to find out more.

Ritual washing facilities

All of our Funeral Directors across the UK will accommodate your religious needs as well as your loved one’s final wishes. If you are arranging a religious funeral, we offer facilities for ritual washing and additional religious ceremony support. Please speak to your local Funeral Director to discuss these facilities in more detail.

Chapel of Rest visiting hours

Our Attended Funeral will allow you to visit your loved one in our private Chapel of Rest facilities by agreed appointment during normal office hours. Alternative visiting arrangements are available with the Attended Funeral only.