to think that pews should remain in churches?

M0nica there are churches with central heating and electric lighting but these have been installed without changing the character of the building. Some churches have pews which date back to the 1700s. I do find it interesting that those who use churches for worship regularly seem to be unwilling to share the space with others who may find spiritual comfort there. Sometimes it does seem to be an Ango-Saxon issue. I have seen very few RC churches stripped of their pews. And the churches I visit abroad are usually intact. They seem to have incorporated visitors and realised they are valuable.

I live in an old house which is just as it was made for the most part a few changes but no central heating, no insulation, no garage beautiful fireplaces in the bedrooms curved stair bannister I have got a bathroom though which it didn’t have and I furnish it with up to date decoration and furniture Everyone who comes loves my house
I do understand that it’s better to use a building more than once a week and I thought that’s why most churches have a church hall but as I said I don’t go so maybe I m not on the ball with that, I just know most of the churches in my area have quite biggish halls

Our church has medieval pews, some with holes for tapers. The church has no running water and does not lock so cannot be used for some of the activities suggested. However the pews are one reason why we get visitors and we would be very sad if they were not there.

The churches I sometimes attend, still have pews except the one which is used as a polling place.
That one is often used for concerts too.

The crematorium, where I seem to go all too often, has pews.
St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh sold off theirs in 2002. Pews aren't very versatile and they are heavy.
Sorry about your peace and quiet trisher but YABU

For most of the time the churches have been around they have not had pews. Most pews date back to the 19th century and no earlier.

Churches have always adapted and changed their internal fixtures and fittings to meet their current needs and this is what is happening now. pews have outlived their usefulness and are being replaced by chairs.

I suspect that most of those so wistfully nostalgic about pews are not church attenders. But see churches as some kind of museum around for their delectation, not as lived in used buildings.

I live in an old house, but not as old as many churches. My house has every mod con from central heating and a modern plumbing and heating system and insulation.

If I want to see a house like mine looking as it was in any time before the present I go to an outdoor museum like the Weald and Downland Living Museum near Chichester. I do not look at the old houses like mine and bemoan the fact that they have gradually been adapted to meet modern living needs and now have running water, gas and electricity and comfortable upholstered chairs and beds.

Except that these are buildings which we hold in trust for future generations. I have no objection to some pews being removed and some space made, but something should be left otherwise we are little more than vandals. How can we explain how people attended and were seated in church if there is nothing to show?
I did think churches were supposed to welcome anyone seeking a spiritual experience not just accommodate a few.

The people who use the building regularly should be free to choose what seating they have. People who just like to visit churches don’t really have a stake in the building. You wouldn’t tell someone not to get a new sofa because you like seeing the old one when you visit them.

Petra, that is wonderful to hear.

Our church is a traditional beautiful building but no pews. We have rows of chairs, many of which have a little grooved shelf on the back where you can put your hymn book etc if you want to and there are kneelers just underneath if you want to use those.

Our church is used for concerts and various fund raisers and we always have coffee served after the services which are usually full

Bridgeit is spot on.
I had the idea that pews were also a safe piece of furniture to be able to get down on your knees to pray , where as a chair could cause a problem ?.
As I say ,it`s just a thought.

EllanVannin the chairs in our local church have a shelf with a lip on the back of each chair, the person behind can put their hymn book etc in there.

The pews on another church I go to are extremely heavy to move every time they want to hold another activity there.

The pews in my church were removed some time ago to make way for chairs, this has freed up a great deal of space for midweek activities, coffee morning, knit and natter, etc., so full use is made of this space. It was a good move and the church is well attended with the activities if not for the Services themselves.

Churches with pews that are therefore empty six days a week because there is nothing else they can be used for. Or churches with movable chairs to provide space for their community seven days a week.

I know which I prefer. The "church" is not a building, it is the fellowship contained within.

I don’t go to church so I guess I shouldn’t reply but there is something so majestic and solid feeling about pews Safe and strong Chairs just seem so ordinary and not part of the structure and although they might be more practical they are NOT symbolic of age, strength, wisdom and togetherness they are separate, they are mass produced they are flimsy so no I don’t like this idea at all

Fantastic, petra

Very soon our local church will start their night shelter for the homeless. This couldn't be done if they still had the old pews.

Many churches start by removing a couple of pews at the front to make more room for what goes on at the front, often a nave altar these days, maybe children singing, a band for a modern service.
Or remove a few at the back to make more space to welcome people, to serve coffee afterwards, to install a tea point, toilets etc. All good things, surely.
Most pews are Victorian and not at all comfortable. Our church is used for concerts and it is hard to enjoy the music on the hard narrow pews.
Many churches will become empty when the present generation of worshippers ( mainly over seventies) has died out, if they don’t make the church building more user friendly and introduce 21 st century facilities.
Space and versatility mean they can put on a variety of events for the community.
A church nearby contains the village shop and post office, which villagers would not otherwise have. They have made good use of the space gained by removing pews.
There is usually a sanctuary where it is peaceful for those who want to sit with their thoughts and prayers.

Many of the pews are Victorian; they are not box pews and do not accord with the age of the church, when the body of the church had no seating at all. Our local medieval church has recently removed the pews in the nave, replacing them with comfortable chairs but left pews in the chancel, a compromise.

It is poor use of space to have churches only used once or twice a week for worship. Removing pews makes the space so much more flexible and an asset to the community which it is there to serve. Comfort is important to concentrate on God for the hour or so of the service. Our churches need to be used - the more the better.

EV

You don’t need the grooving to put your hymn books in at our main church as a screen is used with the words on so no need for books.
Personally, I prefer our little village church with the pews and hymn books, singing traditional hymns in the main, but hey-ho, we have to keep adapting to change.

Yes definitely leave them where they belong.
They are part & parcel of the whole experience of being in a Church.

Pews should be left where they are. Yes, they're hard on the bot but for the amount of time they're in use they may as well remain. They're designed specifically for a church/cathedral which contain the grooving for hymn books etc. Where would these things go if chairs were put in their place ? What would you lean on ?

Why can't things be left as they were ? Is it because someone's short of something to do ?

Had to laugh at your heretic predictive text “hammocks” for “hassocks” Callistemon !
“Hammocks” might be comfortably welcome for lengthy sermons!

I used to appreciate box pews when the girls were little. They would sit on the floor of the pew with their books, colouring , cuddly toy and were happily engaged during the service - and safely contained!

I know they are a later addition but just as I wouldn't expect anyone to remove a stained glass window because it was Victorian (or even later) I think the pews are an integral part of a chuch's history and deserve respect