History Of Church Pews And Spirituality

It is around 8.00 am on Sunday morning and you have just got off your bed knowing that you have to wake up your other family members, prepare breakfast for them and get them and yourself ready for the Sunday services at the local church. After the hustle bustle of morning chores, you pile everyone in the car and get going. You can’t wait to get to your church and slide into your favorite pew.

Just imagine what would be your state of mind if you reach there only to find to your shock that your church pews and chairs have been removed and you are expected to stand for the entire service. Of course, you would be distressed, and thankfully that is not likely to happen. Anyone who has ever walked into a modern church knows that there are either going to be church chairs or church pews to sit on. Not having either seating would be unheard of in present times. However the scene was different several centuries ago when churches did not have pews at all and churchgoers used to stand throughout the service.

The need for seating was felt only around seventeenth centaury when the congregation was expected to participate more. However even then there was not much seating arrangement and the limited church pews and chairs that were there, were reserved for the few affluent families who could afford to pay the rent to reserve their pew till they arrived. It was common to have the family’s name inscribed on the pews which then remained empty in case the family didn’t arrive

Around mid-1800s, the church seating scenario again changed and pews were filled much in a same way as they are today on first come first serve basis, as it became uncommon to pay for a reserved spot. Later, when pews became more popular, different sections of the seating area were reserved for different people. Generally, more affluent people use to sit closer to the Altar while the poorer ones sat farther away.

Most pew reform in the United States began around the 1930s when racial boundaries, at least in the northern states, began to fizzle out. There was no special seating for widows or other special groups of people. Children began to sit with their families, for the most part. Also, pulpits changed during this time and began to be more important, while pews were arranged so that everyone could see the preacher behind the pulpit and the altar.

Over the course of time, some churches have come up with various ways of setting up the pews or church chairs. At one time, it was even common for members of the church to face each other. In the Catholic tradition, before the Vatican II Council changed many elements of the Catholic Mass, the priest did not face the parishioners and had their church chairs facing the same direction as the parishioner's which meant pews faced-most likely toward the altar and/or crucifix.

Today, the world is different and all cultures and colors, both the sexes, the young and old alike, and the wealthy and less affluent are seen as equals in most churches, and the seating arrangements have accommodated that belief. Anyone can sit anywhere they want, and only on the most crowded of days will there not be enough pew space to give everyone a place to sit. We are all equal in the eyes of God.

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About The Author

James Wright is an expert on church furniture and interiors, who also likes to write many interesting articles and blogs, helping people to get access to the right decor choices for these places of worship. He recommends Bornagainpews.com as the best place to buy new and used church furniture at the very best prices.