John E. Vigar MA, FSA Scot., FRSA

Superior Seats

Nothing demonstrates the social history of England as well as the changes that have taken place in our parish churches over the last 1500 years. Alterations that did not purely represent gear changes in religious belief or ritual; they ably demonstrate the class structures to be found in the secular world.

This lecture looks at the story of church seating through the centuries from the solid stone benches that made the `weak go to the wall` to the monumental private pews that still dominate some church interiors.

Seating in churches is a much more varied subject then one might suspect. The medieval clergy originally had stalls and sedilia in the chancels of our churches, whilst the laity only occasionally had elaborate benches – the type of seat we associate with churches today – the bench or pew – only really dates from the nineteenth century. In this fascinating and ground breaking lecture we discover the periods when you couldn’t attend church without paying for your seat; when box pews went with your house; and how the clues are there to help us understand the most private aspect of  public worship.

Suggested Reading

Temples worthy of His presence by Christopher Webster (2003)

A Church as it should be by Christopher Webster (2000)

The Victorian Church by Chris Brooks (1995)

Pews, Benches and Chairs by Trevor Cooper (2011)

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Latest Blogs from John

It`s been a busy few weeks for me as I continue to research my Churches of Essex book for publication in 2025. I`m now at the stage of revisiting the churches to photograph them for the book and have been delighted to have been accompanied by some em...
I am sadly having to sell some of my collection of church books. Just let me know if you would like to purchase any - postage will be charged at cost. Local Styles of the English Parish Church Addison, Sir William Batsford 1982 Hardback VG 2.5 Jordan...
    Happy New Year to you all.   It`s a quiet time of year when churchcrawling is only for the dedicated - so why not sit comfortably at home and attend my 4 session Zoom course exploring the wonderful Churches of Norfolk?   It ru...
Wishing you and those you love a very Happy Christmas. Detail of a stained glass window by Christopher Webb at Isfield Church, Sussex.   John...

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