lych gate

A lych gate is a roofed gateway to a churchyard with a stand on which the people carrying the coffin could place it, while they rested before moving into the church for the service. Often a lych gate would have seats as, before the days of motorised hearses, coffins were often carried considerable distances. The lych gate gave those carrying the coffin the opportunity to rest and gather themselves before carrying the departed on the last leg of their journey with care and dignity.