Ever wondered why the path to many older churches has a little pitched roof porch? It's a 'lychgates', (old English word lych meaning 'corpse'). Some are carved, such as the one at Greenhow Hill made by Robert Thompson which features his famous mice under the roof. The one below can be seen in Coverdale.
Lychgates sometimes have small seats on either side of the gate. The tradition of a lychgate dates back to the 16th century. When some-one died, they were wrapped in a shroud and carried to the lychgate to await burial. Depending on the location, some people might stay there to guard against bodysnatchers. Later they were used to set down the coffin before the service, awaiting the clergyman.