First pews in churches | CONFER.shop

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Yes, it is true. There was no church furniture and people had to stand during the whole mass. The believers were not tied to any position and moved freely around the church. So, when did pews first appear in churches? Since the history of sitting in churches is more complex, we will bring this topic to you in more detail in the following article.

Sitting on a cold stone and replacing it with wood

In the 13th century, church floors were mostly empty and worshipers stood during services. Some churches were equipped with portable stone pews without backs, placed against the walls. Yes, they were made of stone. When we visualize it today, it must have been inconvenient for the believers. The pews later moved to the centre of the room and eventually they have been attached to the floor. In the period before the Reformation, church seats were rare. It became a regular part of the church interior only in the 15th century, when the stone pews from the 14th century were replaced by wooden ones. Although standing during the masses was considered more interactive, the new way of placing the pews in rows towards the pulpit probably added importance to them.

The church pew as a sign of social status

In various denominations, church pews began to be considered a sign of social status. The rich believers sat in the front, the poor ones in the back. In the middle of the 19th century, church pews began to be sold or rented. The seats in the back of the temple were free and reserved for the poor. The importance of church pews was so great that powerful families considered them their personal heirlooms after purchase.

Usability of the church space at present

Nowadays, the space of modern churches is often used for activities other than celebrating the masses. It can host concerts, sermons, community meetings, and various other activities. To meet today's requirements, more universal church pews have been developed. On this trend we also responded, and that is why our assortment includes the Zoe wooden church chair, which, due to its connectivity, can create a unified church pew. It allows for quick and easy relocation and due to its stackability, it saves the church a lot of space, especially for various activities.

Church pews have come a long way since the birth of Christianity. From stone pews to classic wooden ones, we have witnessed a diverse array of different types of church pews emerge throughout history. We decided to pay attention to them because we think that they are an integral part of the church and we want believers to feel as good as possible when listening to God's word. If you liked the article, get to know more about our company and see in which design we produce church pews, church chairs or any other church furniture.