Church Pew
Church Pews: History and Spirituality
Churches go back a long way back in history. Along the way, they have under gone vast changes. The changes, in a way, depict the social changes that took place in history. The changes were based on the changing ideologies, while on the other hand the changes were depicted by the different styles of church pews that also underwent changes over the times.
Pews were non-existent in the medieval times and since then they have gradually evolved.
They were not in existent as in those times congregations were held standing. The important feature of churches in those times was their dome at the top. This was part of the centralized architectural plan of the architects of those times. The church designers usually based their plans solely on one structure or shapes like circular, polygonal or square shaped.
Gradually the pews came into existence and in the period between 1600 and 1800, when everything was about social stature, pews were also used to distinguish between the various social classes. They were a dominant feature in the church just to serve this sole purpose.
Classes of higher strata only had the opportunity to sit in the pews closest to the pulpit.
Pews were separated into groups; one for the general public and one was set-aside for the special groups of people. There was a different kind of seating order for the poor, adolescents, people deaf or hard of hearing, widows and one was also kept aside for blacks. Church pews for blacks were known as “Negro pews”. Some churches went a step ahead and had numbered Negro pews or had the pews labeled as ‘Negro’. Looking at this the social and racial discrimination in those times is clearly visible.
The next period saw a lot of slaves and churches therefore saw slave-owners buying pews for their servants and slaves. This was clear shift from the social discrimination.
The old parish system was set in the 12th century but now England was undergoing a vast change and was developing at a rapid rate with new cities like Liverpool, Birmingham, London and Manchester coming up. Several reforms came about and the old parish system collapsed in the 19th century. Inspire of all these happenings the seating arrangements in the church pews were still extremely haphazard an unorganized. Hence one could never be sure of finding pews in churches around. Even now there were no free pews for everyone. They were rented out to families or the pews were in the name of different houses, so that other than those families no one ever got to sit on the pews. The churches tried to solve this problem by arranging for pews for everyone along the galleries. But this wasn’t sufficient, especially with the now ever-growing population as it was increasing at a rate, which the churches couldn’t accommodate.
But since then church pews and churches have come a long way. The reform first began in 1930. In the period between 1840 to 1930, the private seating arrangement was banished and due to this free pews and open seating arrangements took their place. This is how the term “free church” came into being. Since 1930, there was an increasing awareness about the necessity of equality and this was especially applicable in the house of God. Along with the change in the ideologies of people in the US as well as other countries, the church also underwent change. The blacks were ceased to be discriminated again and thus this good change occurred.
In the post civil war period, most of the churches added box pews and pulpits to their furnishings. The changes at the beginning were due to theological considerations. But now, in the modern church architectural world, theological considerations find no place. Most of the significant changes took place in the post civil war era. The pulpit came to the forefront and got a position right behind the communion table. The communion table replaced the altar.
The current seating arrangement in the pews materialized from a lot of trial and error. A lot of churches experimented with the seating arrangement in order to reach, one suitable for all. At one time parishioners actually sat face to face. Church pews came into use soon after the medieval age and even then the pews were mainly for the people who really needed them, like the elderly people or informs. The development of pews started when Bishops got chairs and then pews were used for the ministers and the congregation. Now, in the modern churches, pews are used to accommodate the masses attending church.
While following the course of the church pews through history, we see that they were used as a means for discrimination between blacks and whites, between genders, between the rich and the poor. But now in the modern world, there is no place for a narrow-minded outlook. Anyone and everyone, rich or poor, black or white can use the pews and the church alike. They are all equal in the eyes of God.
About the Author
Soemul Evans is a seo copywriter for a leading Church Pews manufacturer specializing in affordable Church Pews.
Wedding Decorations & Themes : About Wedding Church Pew Decorations
|
|
United Kingdom Penn Pew Stoke Poges Church Postcard Old Vintage Card View Post $0.30 |
|
|
United Kingdom Stoke Poges Church Penn Pew Postcard Old Vintage Card View Post $0.30 |
|
|
United Kingdom Stoke Poges Church Gray Pew Corner Postcard Old Vintage Card View $0.30 |
|
|
United Kingdom Stoke Poges Church Gray Pew Corner Postcard Old Vintage Card View $0.30 |
|
|
Church of the Redeemer-Sayre Pennsylvania-Bell Tower-Cross-Worship-Altar-Pew- $0.99 |
|
|
WEDDING SUPPLIES CHURCH BOUQUET FLOWERS PEW CLIPS $0.99 |
|
|
FAROE ISLANDS 57 – “Christ and St. Peter” Church Pew (pa17379) $1.00 |
|
|
FAROE ISLANDS 58 – “Paul the Apostle” Church Pew (pa17378) $1.00 |
|
|
Pink Wedding Car 6m Ribbon 3 Pull Bows 50mm Pew Church $1.00 |
|
|
Church Summer Cramp (Tales from the Back Pew) – Paperback $1.00 |
|
|
Pink Wedding Car 6m Ribbon 3 Pull Bows 50mm Pew Church $1.00 |
|
|
Church Harvest Mess-tival (Tales from the Back Pew) – Paperback $1.00 |
|
|
Pink Wedding Car 6m Ribbon 3 Pull Bows 50mm Pew Church $1.00 |
|
|
Pink Wedding Car 6m Ribbon 3 Pull Bows 50mm Pew Church $1.00 |
|
|
Faroe Is 1980 Pew of Kirkjubour Church $1.20 |
|
|
NEW CHURCH WEDDING PEW BOWS PLASTIC CLIPS HOLDERS KLIPS $1.25 |
|
|
CHURCH WEDDING PEW BOW BULK HOOKS CLIPS HOLDERS KLIPS $1.25 |
|
|
APPLE RED 8″ WEDDING PULL PEW BOW BRIDAL SHOWER CHURCH $1.61 |
|
|
BLACK WEDDING 9″ PULL PEW BOW BRIDAL SHOWER CHURCH GIFT $1.61 |
|
|
FUCHSIA HOT PINK 8″ WEDDING PULL PEW BOW BRIDAL CHURCH $1.61 |
|
|
PINK WEDDING 8″ PULL PEW BOWS BRIDAL CHURCH DECOR $1.61 |
|
|
SILVER WEDDING 8″ PULL PEW BOW BRIDAL CHURCH DECORATION $1.61 |
|
|
APPLE RED WHITE WEDDING 8″ PULL PEW BOW BRIDAL CHURCH $1.67 |
|
|
BLACK WHITE WEDDING LARGE PEW BOW BRIDAL CHURCH CAKE $1.67 |
|
|
PERSIMMON ORANGE WHITE WEDDING 8″ PEW BOW BRIDAL CHURCH $1.79 |
|
|
Vintage1957 Presbyterian Church, Showing the Licoln Pew, Gettysburg, PA postcard $1.95 |
|
|
Independence Series 8 Banquet Hall Washington’s Pew Christ Church Postcard $1.99 |
|
|
Church Summer Cramp (Tales from the Back Pew) $1.99 |
|
|
Postcard 921256 Revere Pew Old North Church Boston $2.00 |
|
|
Faroe Is. Stamps 1980 Art Collection Church Pew Ends- FR #49-52 MNH $2.25 |
|
|
SILVER BLACK 8″ WEDDING PULL PEW BOWS CHURCH DECORATION $2.27 |
|
|
BLACK WHITE 8″ PULL PEW BOWS WEDDING CHURCH DECORATION $2.27 |
|
|
BLACK 9″ WEDDING PULL PEW BOW BRIDAL CHURCH DECORATION $2.69 |
|
|
TEAL BLUE 9″ WEDDING PULL PEW BOWS BRIDAL CHURCH CHAIR $2.69 |
|
|
WHITE 9″ LARGE WEDDING PULL PEW BOW BRIDAL CHURCH CHAIR $2.69 |
|
|
PERSIMMON ORANGE 9″ WEDDING PULL PEW BOW BRIDAL CHURCH $2.87 |
|
|
8″ APPLE RED WHITE BLACK WEDDING PULL PEW BOW CHURCH $2.87 |
|
|
SILVER WHITE 8″ WEDDING PULL PEW BOWS BRIDAL CHURCH $2.87 |
|
|
GREEN WHITE 9″ WEDDING LACE PULL PEW BOW CHURCH CHAIR $2.87 |
|
|
Gold CHURCH WEDDING PEW BOWS PLASTIC CLIPS HOOK HOLDERS $2.99 |
|
|
Gettysburg Pennsylvania Postcard Presbyterian Church & Lincoln Pew c1940s Unused $3.00 |
|
|
MA-BOSTON-CHRIST CHURCH-REVERE PEW-RPPC-R53073 $3.00 |
|
|
Large Cone Party Favor / Wall Decor /Church Pew Flower Holder – Package of 10 $3.29 |
|
|
Gettysburg Pennsylvania Postcard Presbyterian Church & Lincoln Pew Inset c1940s $3.50 |
|
|
CANDY PINK BLACK WEDDING 9″ PULL PEW BOW CHURCH BRIDAL $3.59 |
|
|
WHITE GREEN WEDDING 9″ PULL PEW BOW BRIDAL CHURCH CHAIR $3.59 |
|
|
WHITE BLUE WEDDING 9″ PULL PEW BOWS BRIDAL CHURCH CHAIR $3.59 |
|
|
WHITE PINK WEDDING 9″ PULL PEW BOW CHURCH DECORATION $3.59 |
|
|
BLUE BLACK WEDDING 9″ PULL PEW BOWS BRIDAL CHURCH CHAIR $3.59 |
|
|
WHITE BLACK WEDDING 9″ PULL PEW BOW BRIDAL CHURCH CHAIR $3.59 |
|
|
PINK TEAL BLUE WEDDING 9″ PULL PEW BOWS BRIDAL CHURCH $3.59 |
|
|
GREEN BLACK WEDDING 9″ PULL BOW PEW BOW CHURCH CHAIR $3.59 |
|
|
Craithie Church Showing Royal Pew RP Postcard 0187 $3.55 |
|
|
Linen Postcard~Christ Church..Pew~Alexandria,Virginia $3.95 |
|
|
Old Postcard..Christ Church Interior..Washington’s Pew..Alexandria,Virginia/VA $3.95 |
|
|
NEW CHURCH WEDDING PEW BOWS PLASTIC CLIPS FOAM HOLDERS $4.89 |
|
|
Preaching from the Pew: A Message for the Church by Patricia G. Brown 0664500196 $4.97 |
|
|
Color Polaroid B6878 Black family posed together in church by pew $4.98 |
|
|
MINIATURE DOLLHOUSE SETTLE CHURCH PEW, MADE OF WOOD, INSTRUCTIONS NEW IN PKG. $4.99 |
|
|
Pew clips for church pews for weddings to attach bows, florals, etc $5.00 |
|
|
Postcard Washington’s Pew, Christ Church, Alexandria VA $5.00 |
|
|
6 Ivory & 6 White Wedding Pew Bows Church Decorations. Used $5.00 |
|
|
Faroe Islands 102-5 on FDC Church, Pew Gables $5.50 |
|
|
STOKE POGES CHURCH, The Penn Pew – Early Postcard $5.53 |
|
|
GOLD WEDDING BRIDAL CHURCH MARKERS HANGING PEW CONES $5.79 |
|
|
20 Ribbon Pull Bows Gift Wrap Pew Church Wedding Party $5.89 |
|
|
STAINED GLASS CHURCH Little Girls in Pew c1910 Postcard $5.89 |
|
|
Berry Hill Bears ~ New in Box ~ Your Choice $5.95 |
|
|
Vtg Hand Church Pew FAN Scenic Mountain Scene 3 tri-panel folding personal chip $5.99 |
|
|
Vintage RPPC Interior of Union Church Plymouth VT Flag in President Coolidge Pew $5.99 |
|
|
1894 FOULKE CHURCH FURNITURE AD PEW ALTAR CONFESSIONALS $5.99 |
|
|
PLYMOUTH VT: Real Photo-Interior Union Church Identifying President Coolidge Pew $6.00 |
|
|
Pres. Coolidge Pew-Union Church-Plymouth-VT-RPPC $6.50 |
|
|
SIR JOHN MILLAIS “First Sermon” Little Girl in Church Pew c1910 PC $6.63 |
|
|
CHURCH PARKING SIGN 1 new lot road tow away zone signs pastor minister nun pew $6.95 |
|
|
Show’s washingtons Pew Church Alexandria Virginia VA $6.95 |
|
|
Antique Postcard – Alexandria Virginia VA Interior Chris Church Washington’s pew $6.99 |
|
|
KEARNY NJ VALKO&SON PEW REPAIR AD CHURCH INTERIOR OLD Postcard New Jersey $7.25 |
|
|
CHURCH PARKING SIGN 1 new lot road tow away zone signs pastor minister nun pew $7.55 |
|
|
9″ BURGUNDY RED TULLE NET WEDDING PEW BOW BRIDAL CHURCH $7.79 |
|
|
New Yorker cover Eicke church organ pew flower 6/8 1957 $7.84 |
|
|
Church Wedding Bows Pew Ivory Tulle Decorations Unique Extra Large 11×30 Free SH $7.95 |
|
|
XL WhiteTulle Pew Bows Burgundy Flowers Roses Church Wedding Decorations Party $7.95 |
|
|
9.5″ Hand Tied Pew Bow Gold Cream Pine Cone Tree Church Winter Party Decoration $7.99 |
|
|
Trinity Church Interior, Washington Pew, Newport RI $7.99 |
|
|
Custom HandmadeTurquoise Green Wedding Party Aisle Altar Chair Church PEW BOW $7.99 |
|
|
Custom Handmade White Wedding Anniversary Church Chair Christian Baptism Pew Bow $7.99 |
|
|
10″ HAND TIED WHITE SATIN & SILVER WEDDING CHURCH ARCH DECOR LARGE WIRED PEW BOW $7.99 |
|
|
6 IVORY PULL BOWS DECORATIONS WEDDING CHURCH PEW GIFT BASKETS SHOWER BAPTISM $8.99 |
|
|
Vintage wood church pew communion cup holders antique wooden $8.99 |
|
|
St. John’s Church,interior,from Patrick Henry’s pew,Richmond,Va. $8.99 |
|
|
St. John’s Church,Patrick Henry’s pew,Richmond,Virginia $8.99 |
|
|
Lincoln pew,N.Y. Ave. church,Wash’n $8.99 |
|
|
Handmade Black White Purple Wedding Church Pew Birthday Graduation Gifts Bow $8.99 |
|
|
The Lonely Pew: Creating Community in the Local Church $8.99 |
|
|
Victorian Orphan Hymn Church Pew Altar Christian Poem Antrque Poetry Songcard $9.46 |
|
|
How to Choose a Church or Synagogue: A 21 Pew Adventure by Ruth Laker HUMOR PBK $9.95 |
|
|
HandTied Tuscan Velvet Florentine Silver Wedding Church Aisle Arch Party PEW BOW $9.95 |
|
|
1951 Church Pew American Seating Grand Rapids MI Ad $9.98 |
|
|
VINTAGE HBG EASTER POSTCARD BEAUTIFUL LADY BONNET CHURCH PEW BOOK VASE LILIES $9.99 |
|
|
Seat Solution Orthopedic Seat Cushion $14.99 Seat Solution Orthopedic Seat Cushion is designed to relieve nagging backaches, numbness, and discomfort while you sit. It has a special wedge shape with U Cutaway for your tailbone. Made from All New Material Consisting of 100% Polyurethane Foam. Includes black dual sided cover, breathable fabric on one side with stain and water resistant finish on the other…. |
|
|
Chinese Proverb MAN WHO FART IN CHURCH SIT IN OWN PEW Coffee Mug in Metallic Colors T-ShirtFrenzy offers over 30,000 designs on tons of products to offer millions of variations. You can search our store for something for everyone on your gift list or shop for yourself (our personal favorite). Please contact us with questions…. |
|
|
Chinese Proverb MAN WHO FART IN CHURCH SIT IN OWN PEW Full Size Professional Apron (3 Pockets) The Design/Saying is put on the apron using the best dye-sublimation process. It is great, since you dont have that thick transfer feeling. The feel is very smooth and comfortable. T-ShirtFrenzy offers over 30,000 designs on tons of products to offer millions of variations. You can search our store for something for everyone on your gift list or shop for yourself (our personal favorite). Plea… |
|
|
I Still Believe [CD with DVD] $7.49 No Description Available.Genre: Gospel/Christian MusicMedia Format: Compact DiskRating: Release Date: 2-JUN-2009… |
|
|
Pew Thuggin $8.99 … |
|
|
Tales From A Street Corner Confessional $8.99 … |
|
|
Wedding Pew Decorations $19.95 Includes detailed instruction on several pew decorations…. |
|
|
Pew Card-Welcome Hallelujah (50 Pack) $5.99 Attractive pew cards extend a warm welcome to visitors from the moment they enter the church. The back of the card provides a form for collecting visitor information. This card features the words “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. Revelation 19:1 (KJV)”… |
|
|
David’s Bridal Plastic Pew Clips Pack of 6 Style 1403-90P $6.00 Create a beautiful atmosphere as you walk down the aisle by decorating the end of the pews in any church or chapel. These plastic pew clips fit pews up to 3″. Attach bows, balloons, flowers or your own personal touch to pews or chairs. A great accent for weddings or showers. Sold as 6/pk. ** NOTE Must purchase in increments of 3. Measures: H 1″ X W 7.5″ XL 5.3″… |
|
|
Ash Wednesday – Church Aisle Card 5 x 7 inch premium quality folded paper greeting card. cards & photo cards from Greeting Card Universe will bring a smile to your loved ones’ face. Whether for one person or the whole family, a card will make the occasion memorable this year. Look no further than Greeting Card Universe for your card needs. This paper card includes the following themes: ash wednesday, church, and aisle. Set your pa… |