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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Having Trouble Finding the Right Church Seating?

The church is a place where people can rest from their worries and renew their spirit. A little bit of discomfort may distract them from listening to the sermon or from praying. This is why you need to purchase comfortable seating, so that churchgoers will have the right attitude when they worship. Listed below are other important things to consider when choosing church seating:

Church Activities

When choosing seating, make sure they accommodate all the activities the church conducts. Long pews may not be suitable for churches that hold lively worship services, which require members to dance and walk around the sanctuary. It's best to choose individual wood or metal chairs that can be rearranged inside the sanctuary.

Color & Design

A traditional church may not look respectable with high-contrast and multicolored chairs. Choose pews or chairs that match the color of the walls or the nature of the materials used to construct the church. An old church may need wooden pews with dark varnish and subdued upholstery. On the other hand, a church built in a contemporary style might go well with padded chairs that come in dynamic colors and posh designs.

Floor Area

Measure the floor area of the church before deciding on a particular type of church seating. The size of the seating will greatly depend on the total floor area of the church.  There must be enough space for movement and the other activities that go on inside the sanctuary. 

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