A quiet place to light a candle, together
MetaChapel is a free virtual chapel in your web browser. You become a small character in a candlelit stone chapel and pray quietly alongside people from around the world. There is no chat and nothing to win, just a calm, shared space.
How to light a candle online
- Open metachapel.com on your phone or computer. No sign-up or app is needed.
- Press the Candle button at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose an intention.
- Your character walks to the matching alcove and lights a candle. It burns for 24 hours.
The six intentions
- For healing — for someone who is ill, or for your own heart
- In remembrance — for someone you have lost
- For my family — for the people you love
- In thanksgiving — to say thank you to God for a blessing
- For peace — in the world, at home, or within
- For guidance — when you need light for the way ahead
What you can do in the chapel
- Pray — fold your hands and rest in quiet prayer.
- Bless — bow gently to the people near you. They see “Gentle Dove blessed you.”
- Candle — light a free candle in one of six side alcoves.
- Sit in a pew, sign the prayer book, tie a ribbon on the ribbon wall, and look up at the painted ceiling and the stars through the glass.
- Listen to soft organ hymns and chant, just for you, and hear the bells ring on the hour.
- Keep a gentle, private record of your days of prayer in My journey.
Questions
What is MetaChapel?
MetaChapel is a free virtual chapel in your web browser where people light prayer candles and pray quietly together. You appear as a small character in a candlelit stone chapel with stained glass, a painted ceiling and an organ. There is no chat, just a calm shared space.
Is lighting a candle free?
Yes. Praying and lighting the standard candle are always free. Optional extras such as a tall 7-day candle, a golden candle, a prayer card and a golden ribbon help keep MetaChapel running.
Is MetaChapel a church or a charity?
No. MetaChapel is an independent project, not a church or charity. Your support keeps the site running.
Do I need an account or an app?
No. MetaChapel runs in any modern browser on phones and computers. You are given a calming name like Gentle Dove when you enter.
What does “In thanksgiving” mean?
A candle lit in thanksgiving is a way of saying thank you to God, for an answered prayer, a recovery, a new baby, getting through a hard time, or everyday blessings.
What music plays in the chapel?
Soft organ hymns from public-domain melodies such as Old Hundredth and Hymn to Joy, a gentle plainsong-style chant, candle sounds and bells on the hour. Hymns play only for you, when you choose.
Is my information private?
MetaChapel has no accounts. Your candles, ribbons and prayer streaks are saved on your own device. Payments are handled by PayPal; MetaChapel never sees your card details. See our privacy notice.
What is the painting on the ceiling?
The Triumph of the Name of Jesus by Giovanni Battista Gaulli (Baciccio), 1676–79, from the ceiling of the Church of the Gesù in Rome. Photo by Jean-Christophe Benoist, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.