Choosing Seating for Your Church – Weighing the Advantages of Pews and Chairs
Starting a new church or even updating your existing church
is a very exciting time. Whether you are building a new church building, adding
on to an existing one or simply remodeling your current sanctuary, you have
some important decisions to make. You might be considering pulpits, communion
tables and minister’s chairs for the pulpit area, carpet, or maybe even a new
baptistery. Perhaps one of the most important furnishings you will choose for
your church is sanctuary seating.
There are several options for church seating, but two of the
most popular choices are pews and chairs. Both have excellent benefits, but you
will need to decide which is better for your church, depending on your church’s
unique needs.
If you choose to have your pews upholstered, you can choose
your fabric and even your cushion thickness. Customizable fabrics and stains
can help you better match your existing church furniture. Additional accessories, such as communion cup
holders and book racks can be added to the pew back. Because pews are often
built to suit, more options might be available to your liking.
Church chairs might be customizable as well, depending on
the manufacturer. Most manufacturers automatically offer chairs in a selection
of certain colors, but might be able to use a custom fabric if requested. Some
chairs come with built-in under seat book racks, ganging devices, and card
pockets. If there are specific features that you are looking for in a chair,
ask the manufacturer if it can be added. Many chair makers and distributors can
have card pockets, rear pouches and book racks added during manufacturing.
An important factor to consider when choosing between pews
and chairs is whether the sanctuary
space will be used for any events other
than regular church services. If so, you should consider whether the type of
seating you choose will be appropriate. If your church plans to host concerts
or other community events, would chairs or pews be the better choice?
Another factor is the longevity of the furniture. Chairs
should come with a manufacturer’s warranty, and pews might have a warranty as
well. With pews, the wood can be restored after several years of wear and tear
and can also be repadded and have fresh fabric placed on them. While it is
possible to reupholster chairs, performing this task to 100+ chairs can be
tedious and extremely time consuming.
Once you have decided between the more traditional look of
pews and the contemporary look of chairs, it’s time to think about quantity.
But to decide on the best quantity for your church, you must look into your
state’s code for maximum occupancy. Adhering to these codes will help ensure
your congregation’s safety and comfort.
In deciding on a number of pews or chairs, you must also
consider your congregation’s comfort. If purchasing pews, how many people can
you realistically see sitting in one pew? A common complaint of pews is the
unwillingness of strangers to sit in the pews with people they do not know. In
some churches, families might “claim” a pew and other members of the
congregation will feel that they are not welcome to sit there. This can be an
issue if space is limited.
Similarly, when chairs are used in a sanctuary, members of
the congregation will often leave a seat or two in between themselves and
someone that they do not know. However, when choosing a chair, you can opt for
slightly smaller chairs to accommodate more people, but again, you might be
sacrificing your congregation’s comfort in doing so.
Another important point to consider is whether the amount of
seating you choose offers enough space to account for growth. Growth for
churches is always a great thing and a goal, but if there isn’t enough seating
for them, or if they are uncomfortable, those potential members might look
elsewhere for their church home. This is why considering all of the available
options for seating in your church is such an important decision.
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