A Guide to the Old Practice of Leasing Church Pews

Up until the late 19^th century, the concept of free seating in church pews was not very well-known. Church seats, in fact, weren't as essential to a place of worship as they are nowadays until the Protestant Reformation. The religious movement gave rise to the centrality of the sermon in church activities; consequently, it was sitting down for the whole duration of its delivery that prompted church seats to become a necessary feature in many Christian places of worship in the United States.

When pews were introduced to churches, worshippers were initially asked to lease them. Fees collected through these rentals were utilized by many churches, especially those that didn't require tithing, to fund church building projects. The problem with the practice, however, is that it encouraged a division among churchgoers coming from different statuses. By the 1840s, criticism on pew rentals reached a point where churchgoers become more vocal about their apprehensions regarding the practice.

As people began questioning the legality of renting out seats for worship activities, many church leaders also noticed that the number of regular churchgoers was going down because the pews were limited in number and not everyone could afford to rent one. Although some churches responded to the trend by offering free seating in about 20 percent of all the pews, further reforms within many Christian faiths led to the eventual discouragement of renting out pews entirely.

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History of Church Pews

The church has a long history, and is witness to upheavals both outside and within its institution. Along with its faith, iconic ornaments, and church attire, the changes inside the Church through time have also touched the humble pews, as well. For over 1,000 years of church history, early churches didn't have pews since most congregants were expected to remain standing throughout.

Church pews were already in existence in the 13^th century when stone benches were placed against the walls. However, it was not until 1517, the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, that pews were fixed to the floor. After the Protestant Reformation, church services focused more on the sermon, instead of interaction between it's members. Because of this, pews—how they were made and designed—became almost as well regarded as the church architecture.

Since then, stone church pews were replaced by wooden benches. However, in some churches, pews were used to show the classes of the people. Those in the higher class were seated on the pews closest to the pulpit, while a different type of seating were given to the poor, handicapped, widows. Another set of pews were allotted to blacks.

Church pews have gone through many changes over time; once even used to discriminate between the whites and the blacks, the men and the women, and the rich and the poor. Today, church seating reflects how we have dismantled much of our old notions of race and class distinctions. Like any furniture in today's homes, church pews have become ornamental, as they are importantly functional, fixtures.

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