Removal of pews from churches.

[Helendee]

Can I ask for opinions on the above please.
It seems to be the growing trend to remove pews and replace them with stackable chairs in Anglican churches and I for one am really saddened by it.
I know it’s only aesthetics and that the pews don’t make the church but my parish church now looks as if it’s a concert hall and not a place of worship!

Movable chairs a lot better for those with mobility problems or those who use wheelchairs.

Yes I can see that but our church is large with with plenty of space to accommodate wheel chairs and scooters.

My church recently replaced pews with chairs. As expected it was pretty controversial and there was much heated debate in the lead up.

Now we have chairs I like the fact the people in wheelchairs can sit where they choose by having one chair at the end of a row removed, rather than being told where to sit. The worship space is more flexible too which means we can do candle lit night prayer in the round, Messy Church also fits in much easier. It's just that people are used to seeing pews. When most old parish churches were built it was traditional for people to stand, only the wealthy had pews.

Chairs will just become your new normal in the end. Anyway, what you sit on doesn't change you, your prayer or your faith.

Maybe it's to raise funds. Are they selling them?

It’s been going on for years and most progressive churches have already done so. It makes for a much more flexible space, which can be used for a multitude of activities. Pp who said it doesn’t change you, your prayer or your faith is right. And usually the new chairs are way comfier. But I’m with you OP, I miss the pews too.

Yes I can see that but our church is large with with plenty of space to accommodate wheel chairs and scooters

Why should they always sit where dictated? What about those who don’t use a wheelchair but still have mobility problems?

I have motbilty problems myself and actually find a solid wooden pew far more comfortable to sit in than a flimsy, cheap chair.
I also feel more exposed and that I have less privacy now that I’m squashed next to other people.

What Fission said. Much easier to move chairs to accommodate someone's wheelchair. Also pews are more expensive to maintain, church buildings cost a lot of money to maintain and I understand wanting to make the most of that money.

"I also feel more exposed and that I have less privacy now that I’m squashed next to other people."

How are you more squashed next to someone in a chair than in a pew!? I think you're suffering with nostalgia. Look at the rationale for keeping the pews and the rationale for having chairs instead. I imagine the weight falls on the side of having chairs, even if some parishioners are sad to see the pews go. Nostalgia is never a good reason to keep doing something!

But don’t you feel that something is lost aesthetically?
As I said, my church is now home to a large stage with microphones and a drum kit and looks like a concert venue.
I fear it’s not the right place for me now.

Nostalgia is not a good reason but neither is change for no good reason. I fear it’s just a trend.

Our church has done this. It means they can use the church very flexibly and can raise funds. They have concerts, dances, fashion shows, fairs, Motown nights, harvest suppers, wedding venue (for evening reception aswell as ceremony) ITV have used it a few times as they can get all their equipment up and down easily. A theatre group uses it for shows with their lighting and electric/computer deck thing and build bits around the church for their shows. It makes for a very flexible space and allows the church to be used so much more by the community as a venue. There's always something going on. There are a few pews that are pushed aside but a lot of chairs aswell.

It sounds like you're making a judgement based on no information. What is the rationale they are giving for moving to chairs? Surely it's rather a lot of hassle to take out pews and replace with chairs just because other churches are doing it. What is the rationale? I am still willing to bet it outweighs the rationale for keeping them, which, in light of your comment about the microphone and drum kit, makes me think it's just 'I like things to stay the way they were'! Do you also mourn the loss of family pews for the rich worshippers? I bet you don't like women vicars either! Sorry to be harsh, but surely you can see you need to embrace the future, not be stuck in the past! Or do you want your churches only full of reserved old ladies? Don't you want more people worshiping God? Younger people?

I never knew churches did this, mine doesn't...is it for cleaning or to make room for disabled people (.e.gwheelchair users) to have space too?

Are you on the PCC? I imagine it will have been discussed there, and that’s a good place to raise your views on it.

It can be easy to fall into a consumerist mindset about church, and move when it doesn’t suit us. Does it feel like somewhere Christians gather and scatter still or does the lack of pews inhibit your worship?

Sorry but

Only on MN can the leap be made from mourning the loss of pews to being anti female vicars lol.
We already have a large church hall so fail to see the need to turn the church itself into another ‘venue’ and the congregation is large, growing and made up of all ages.

Surely Hyacinth Buckets are welcome in God’s house too? 😉

Worknamechanged, actually it’s starting to feel way too happy-clappy for my tastes.
I need to move on I think.

I imagine that the original pews are worth a fair bit of money, so the church will be selling them off. Lots of people I know have refurbished pews in their hallways or kitchens at home, and a lot of pubs around us have pews for seating. I do think it's a shame though, aesthetically, but churches need to diversify to survive.

By “happy-clappy” do you mean charismatic or evangelical? Are there any Anglo-Catholic churches you could worship at instead?

Maybe the congregation is growing because the church leadership is becoming more progressive.

I'm not a Christian, by the way. I have no opinion on how many people attend church each week. I'm just surprised to see a Christian not wanting to fall over themselves to move with the times in order to bring more people to your way of thinking.

There are lots of reasons for doing this, and in my experience those who get most upset about it are often those who are on the fringes, or who come to church once or twice a year. (But that's not directed as you, OP - just an observation...) We don't have a church hall, so anything that happens has to happen in the main church building. Chairs have made the space much more flexible - and mean that the building is used for more than just a couple of hours on a Sunday morning! Ours is medieval, and would not have had pews (or any seats) originally - pews tend to be Georgian or Victorian, so relatively recent. I do find it odd that the church is constantly criticised for 'not moving with the times', yet this issue gets so many people hot under the collar. Did people get so exercised at churches installing electric lights...?!

“I'm just surprised to see a Christian not wanting to fall over themselves to move with the times in order to bring more people to your way of thinking.”

Fireworks nailed it.

OP I think you’ve lost sight of your priorities a bit tbh. I don’t think Jesus was the sort of guy to care about the type of chair people sit on.

But... there are other churches around. Try some out. Go be happy, I guess. Just don’t stop the others from being happy in their chairs.

Might need a hard hat but yes from an aesthetic point of view I hate it especially if the church it has been done in is of historic or artistic interest. Some will argue that if you are not of the religion you have no right to comment but some buildings transcend religion and play an important part in education, tourism etc. It is a desecration of such buildings imo. All the work done to the glory of whatever god is being worshipped should be retained if at all possible; horrid folding chairs and space for messy church vile. Sympathetic adjustments for modern times fine.