Have a Seat: On Properly Positioning Church Pews

Church pews are an indispensable item in any house of worship. They provide the bare minimum of comfort for those celebrating Mass or attending service, while their deliberate shared seating capacity allows for the celebrants to come together in praise of the Lord. In short, church pews, while appearing at times as ordinary wooden benches, serve a very important role.

Ministers and priests alike will want to position their pews properly for the best effect. While it’s only natural that the faithful need to face the altar or front of the temple, houses of worship only have so much room for a certain number of pews. A little ingenuity can maximize the space within a sanctuary, fitting as many pews as the location permits.

One way to properly position pews is to first mark the floor of a temple with masking tape to denote a pew’s position. Those attempting to move the church furniture this way should also measure the dimensions of the pews to get a rough idea of how each will take up space. It’s wiser to move the pews one by one, starting with the front row moving backwards. If there are spaces along the sides of the temple, ministers should consider either adding pews positioned diagonally, or smaller pews to fill in the gaps.

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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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How to Save Money When Buying Church Pews

Old, worn out pews may cause your parishioners to look for another church. If your parish is low on funds, however, you probably don't have the luxury of spending for new ones so you may just need to stick it out. Luckily, there are ways for you to save money when buying pews.

One good tip is to skip the custom length pews and just go for standard length pews. Custom length pews are generally more expensive and it will just give you a couple of inches more than the standard version, so in the long run it won't really add much. Another good way to save money when buying new church pews is by picking stock fabrics.

While style is important, picking a specific shade for your pew may take up a lot of time and money; it might be best to just stick with a neutral color. You can also save money by comparing the prices of pews online. Several companies specialize in church furniture so you can do some cross shopping to find out who will give you a better price—just make sure you pay attention to the craftsmanship so you'll know that you are getting a high-quality product.

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