Not all benches and pews are the same. Looking back to the past, the production of pews for churches was approached particularly consistently, even meticulously.

The majestic seats with high backrests and sides, which separated the visitors of the church from the outside world, gradually developed into an open, minimalist and comfortable seating.

What is a church pew?

Church pews are pews made entirely of solid wood. The traditional church pew is a long piece of furniture on which up to four people can usually sit.

The pew has undergone a development that has changed its shape from complex and dense to its current minimalist and elegant appearance. It can be said that it evolved together with believers, their active participation in services and to a large extent also according to the economic situation of individual countries.

Zoe church pew - made of oak wood

Church pews and their history

It all started in the Middle Ages. With the advent of Christianity, churches began to be built around the world. In the first Christian temples, however, there was no room for comfortable sitting at all - church pews were missing. However, they were not even necessary - during the services, believers usually stood or knelt in prayer.

The first medieval pews built along the walls of the church were made of stone. There is no doubt that during the service it was really more comfortable for some to stand.

Wooden church pews did not occur until sometime in the 14th century. In the following centuries, however, their production continued to expand. Church pews have become masterpieces, even works of art. They had massive seating areas, wide sides and high backrests. Large pieces of solid wood allowed the carvers to show off their craft in full beauty. The benches in the church began to be decorated with scenes from biblical stories, pictures of saints and symbols of the church.

From the 16th century, church pews became a sign of social status. Wealthy families had their own place in the churches to sit, and the magnificence of the decoration of the church pew was a sign of standing in the social ladder. It was a departure from Christian values, but unfortunately that was the reality.

Fortunately, times are completely different today. The appearance of the church pews was reunited and harmony and equality among the faithful returned to the temple. From the middle of the 19th century, private church pews were abandoned and gradually the production of pews began, which were freely accessible to everyone. Even kneelers and handles for the songbook and the Bible began to be added to the pews to make them practical and comfortable for church visitors.

Minimalism and functionality prevail in the design of contemporary church pews. The quality of materials and workmanship, as well as accessories, remains and is constantly improving.

Zoe Church pews made in Slovakia

Church chairs as a modern alternative

Church chairs are a modern alternative to church pews. They are lighter and more practical, allowing you to create space in churches if necessary and to arrange seating for other guests if necessary. In short, they are flexible.

Like art, culture, crafts and, in fact, everything that society produces, sitting in a church is a kind of reflection of human development. It has adapted and improved over the years. Our church chairs, which can be connected to the church pew, have also improved with man's advancement, values, education and faith.

Zoe's church pew with a reading and writing desk
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