Chapels

Small chapel, Karori Cemetery

Karori Cemetery has two chapels for hire. The main chapel seats 140 and the small chapel - a 1909 heritage building - seats 24.

Hours

Chapel services normally take place Monday - Friday, between 8.00am and 4.15pm.

Special arrangements can be made for weekends and public holidays, however additional costs may apply.

Service Options

Both chapels can be hired for half hour blocks of up to three hours. They can be used for any form of service or ceremony, but are generally used for committal services or full services.

Family or friends can appoint any person to officiate the service.

There are different options for services in the chapel. Specify your particular requirements when booking. The different options include:

casket lowering
curtains only
recording
cross covers.

Service Procedures

Full Services - the chapel opens 30 minutes before full services.
Committal Services - the chapel opens 10 minutes before the scheduled committal.

Earlier opening times are possible, but must be specified on the booking form and approved by Cemetery staff.

Support Staff

The Cemetery's Chapel Attendant is available to help with set up and some aspects of the service, and is present throughout. Indicate your specific wishes on the booking form and discuss with your funeral director.

Make a Chapel Booking

Complete and return your booking form to the Cemetery office at least 24 hours before the scheduled chapel service.

Karori Cemetery Office

Back to Top of Page.

Cremation Service

To hire a chapel to accompany a cremation, show this on the same form you use to book the cremation.

Cremation Booking form (96Kb PDF)
Cremations - Fees

Burial or Ash Interment

To hire a chapel in relation to a casket or ash interment, or for any other reason, complete the chapel section on the Sundry Booking form:

Booking Confirmation

Once the documentation is complete and the booking confirmed, you will receive a Customer Booking Summary. It sets out the details of the services and facilities required for your booking.

Brief History of the Small Chapel

Stained glass window in the small chapel, Karori Cemetery

The small chapel was designed by noted Wellington architect John Sydney Swan and is well known for its intimate ambience and world-class stained glass windows.

Grave of Note - John Sidney Swan

There are six stained glass windows in the small chapel, designed and built in the An Tur Gloine (Tower of Glass) factory in Dublin. The windows were made over a period of 25 years by artists Wilhelmina Geddes and Michael Healy.

The windows were commissioned by an English-born Wellington resident, William Ferguson, in memory of his family.

Overview
Burials
Cemeteries Database
Cemetery Memorials
Chapels
Cremations
Karori Cemetery
Makara Cemetery
Purchase a Plot