Some thoughts on pews vs chairs

 

Pews vs chairs in church is a major consideration because you want your congregation to be comfortable.


Keep pews:

  • Preserve history
  • Enhance aesthetics Sustainable
  • Cost effective: Church chairs may cost less than pews upfront, but their maintenance and replacement needs can make them more expensive in the long run.
  • Durable
  • Children can lay down and sleep 
  • People can squish in together
  • easier to hide under

 

Chairs

    • greater flexibility & versatility (arrange interior to meet specific event requirements)
    • greater comfort for folks with back problems
    • The decision to remove pews can be a contentious one, with traditionalists often objecting to the loss of historic features and the perceived "modernization" of the church.  The Church of England has seen rows erupt over decisions to remove pews, with some protests even reaching diocesan courts. 
  • Orthodox Churches:
    • Orthodox churches often have pewless sanctuaries, with chairs or benches reserved for those who need them. 
    • Many Orthodox churches encourage standing during worship, rather than sitting. (In Chicago, Easter eve, an Orthodox church (Ukrainians) have a 3 hour service ending at midnight, standing the entire time.)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chairs and pews in the sanctuary

Image
  Chairs   from NewHolland ,  48 (includes 20 for the choir) for the sanctuary and 2 double seated for use in the general seating or for the minister and liturgist   Extra bolts of upholstery fabric can be purchased for pews, and the pew-man may be able to buy the fabric himself Will have an open slot in the rear for two books, will not have a kneeler, may have a communion cup holder depending on costs Are sturdy enough to support a person using the back to hold while standing up have small pin connectors when chairs are arranged in a tight row Chairs come in single, double and triple size. Single chairs can be stacked 5 high.  (These pics are a different, less strong, style) Pews that are being refinished: Two 9' Two 10' Six 12' Four pews for the fellowship hall, 12' if possible, otherwise as long as able It costs less to upholster the pews than to make pads (only one layer of fabric needed).  The Pew Man may be able to purchase...
Read more

Blending woods and flooring

 Wood: To create a sense of calmness, it is important to minimize how many different shades of wood that one sees.  We also want a matte finish on the wood so that it looks natural, not shiny.   Wood to be finished: wainscoting pews chairs Painters currently contracted with the Old High School have a sample of a board from our wainscoting that is finished to be like the chairs, but better.   The chair and pew folks can both match the finish to our specifications.    On the floor, samples are in the sanctuary now: A LVT, Luxury Vinyl Tile that looks like wood and is in long pieces, kinda like wide boards, will be installed.     Vinyl will can be installed without nails or screws which could damage the HoH, Hard of Hearing, cables that will be installed under the floor.   A red carpet that can be rolled up will extend from the narthex to the chancel.  The red picks up the red in the stained glass windows
Read more

Flooring

Image
Brighten and lighten our sanctuary.   Our recommendations  for the main flooring and a strip of carpet down the middle aisle: Main flooring White marble Vinyl Luxury Tile by J&J flooring.  Click to enlarge.      Rayon carpet tiles that reflect some color in the windows Carpet on the middle aisle extending into the narthex:  Solid color, high quality material picking up a bright color from the windows like red, blue or green  NOTES: This flooring could be used from the narthex into the kitchen and fellowship hall.   That will give a calmness and easy transition.   Easy to clean. Easy to replace a tile if damaged.  Installers will have special tools to punch holes for bolting down the pews. Audio HoH cable will be placed under the tile (fabric or Vinyl).  The installers will put down a strip of tape, then the cable, then another strip of tape.  The tile will be laid after the HoH cable.   The flo...
Read more