| Picture this scenario. It is about 8:00 am on a | | | | if a family did not arrive for worship, the pew |
| Sunday morning and you have stumbled out of | | | | was still theirs and remained empty while others |
| bed knowing that it is your responsibility to wake | | | | stood. |
| up your other family members, feed them | | | | Then, around the mid-1800s, church seating began |
| breakfast, and get them dressed in their "Sunday | | | | to evolve further. It became uncommon to pay |
| best." Even though you are tired an might just like | | | | for a reserved spot on a church pew, and church |
| to pull the covers over your head, you live up to | | | | pews were filled much as they are today, on a |
| your family's expectations and prepare them and | | | | first-come/first-serve basis. Still, though, it was |
| yourself for the Sunday services at your local | | | | uncommon to find adequate pew space in |
| church. | | | | churches. |
| You cook bacon and eggs, find some stockings | | | | As pews began to become more mainstream, |
| that don't have a run, get out your pumps and | | | | there were different areas of pews for different |
| flowered dress, and the do all those same things | | | | people. Generally, the more affluent people sat |
| for your daughter. You find your son's tie that he | | | | closer to the altar or pulpit, while the poorer |
| can't find for himself, and tie your husband's tie | | | | people sat farther away. There would also be |
| straight because he can't do that either. | | | | special seating for black people, children, and |
| You are not even out the door yet, and already | | | | sometimes widows. They may or may not have |
| you are tired and your feet hurt. You pile | | | | been labeled with the proper designation, such as |
| everyone into the car and are careful to bring | | | | Negro Pews or Widow Pews. |
| Cheerios for your toddler to snack on and a | | | | When slavery was still the custom in the United |
| coloring book for the older kids so they won't | | | | States, slave owners could pay for pew space in |
| misbehave during the sermon. You can't wait to | | | | order to have their servants close to them to |
| get in there and slide into your favorite pew. | | | | tend to their needs, or sometimes there would be |
| What would happen if you got there only to | | | | a separate galley for slaves. |
| discover that your church was no longer having | | | | Most pew reform in the United States began |
| the congregation members sit? You discover to | | | | around the 1930s. Black people and white people, |
| your shock that the church chairs and pews have | | | | at least in the northern states, sat next to each |
| been removed and you are expected to stand | | | | other if they so desired. There was no special |
| for the entire service. Chances are, you would be | | | | seating for widows or other special groups of |
| distraught, and thankfully that is not likely to | | | | people. Children began to sit with their families, for |
| happen. | | | | the most part. Also, pulpits changed during this |
| Anyone who has ever walked into a modern | | | | time. Pulpits began to be more important, and |
| church knows that there are either going to be | | | | pews were arranged so that everyone could see |
| church chairs or church pews to sit on. Not having | | | | the preacher behind the pulpit and the altar. |
| any kind of seating would be unheard of in our | | | | Over the course of time, some churches have |
| society today. Several centuries ago, however, | | | | come up with various ways of setting up the |
| most churchgoers were expected to stand rather | | | | pews or church chairs. At one time, it was even |
| than sit, so churches did not have pews. | | | | common for members of the church to face |
| Most churches were built around a dome or | | | | each other. In the Catholic tradition, before the |
| central area where priests or preachers would | | | | Vatican II Council changed many elements of the |
| preach, while the congregation stood around. It | | | | Catholic Mass, the priest did not face the |
| worked well for standing parishioners, but around | | | | parishioners and had their church chairs facing the |
| the seventeenth century, the congregation began | | | | same direction as the parishioner's pews |
| to be expected to participate more, and the need | | | | faced-most likely toward the altar and/or crucifix. |
| for seating increased. Still, however, there was | | | | Today, the world is different and all cultures and |
| not much seating, and the pews or church chairs | | | | colors, both the sexes, the young and old alike, |
| that did exist were typically reserved for the | | | | and the wealthy and less affluent are seen as |
| wealthier people who could afford to pay the | | | | equals in most churches, and the seating |
| church rent money to hold their pew open for | | | | arrangements have accommodated that belief. |
| them until they arrived. | | | | Anyone can sit anywhere they want, and only on |
| In the 1700s it was common for pews to have a | | | | the most crowded of days will there not be |
| family's name on them and everyone knew that | | | | enough pew space to give everyone a place to |
| those pews were reserved for that family. Even | | | | sit. |