Whether to go with chairs or pews in a worship space is a big question for those building new churches or renovating existing churches. Most of us know that medieval churches had no seating at all and that pews came along centuries later. The old-time box pews were sort of the box seats of churches, providing reserved seating for those who paid their pew rental fees.
Most cathedrals in Europe use chairs—if they have any seating at all. More and more US cathedrals (and parish churches as well) are following suit, understanding that the chairs give them much more flexibility in the use of their space. The National Cathedral in Washington, DC understands that chairs are meant to be moved once in a while. Watch how they do it below.
If you need help deciding what’s best for your church, give me a call. I will gladly share with you the experiences of other churches I’ve worked with to help you decide what’s right for you.