Sitting Comfortably

Dear Readers, in the light of Archdruid Eileen's comments on  Worship Rules, and in particular seating arrangements, she asked me if I could do some analysis for her on the different ways of seating for acts of worship. She particularly wanted me to find some insights for her - but I hope that it may help you to understand the different ways of arranging worshippers in many different traditions.

"Preaching Box Pews"

The use of pews became particularly important during the Age of Empire. It was important for the governing classes that the working classes became used to arranging themselves in long lines, as when they were sent to war it made them more disciplined when walking through enemy lines.

 This example is designed to fit in maximum worshippers into a space - which as you can see above is working terribly well. In this example, either "A" and "B" are a couple who have been married for less than one year, or "B" is seriously freaking "A" out.

Pews with Pillars
Of course, Church of England churches have to work around architecture that may have been built centuries ago. You couldn't just go taking out the pillars that held the roof up in the interests of pew packing efficiency. Therefore the pew arrangement has to work with the pre-existing architecture.

In the example above, the worshippers have arranged themselves around the pillars in such a way that they can see the preacher. "A" and "B", on the other hand, are taking advantage of the "dead zones" behind the pillars, to ensure the preacher can't see what they're up to.

Christmas in the Pews
 When the Carol service comes round, it is discovered that pews actually aren't the most efficient way of packing them in. In a once-a-year concession, chairs are allowed in to increase the number of worshippers that can fit in.

Seats
Removing pews from old churches can cause great upset.  However the use of seating can increase the informality of the service, and ensure worshippers have a more comfortable worship experience. i.e. it is easier for them to fall asleep during the sermon. It is hoped that this will encourage higher attendance.

However for some this is a step too far. Instead sometimes it is agreed that we should go for...

The Compromise

 The lure of the comfy seats has not overcome the desire to be out of eye-contact range from the preacher. The preacher has invited the people sitting at the back to "move forward to show we are one body". "A" and "B" are seriously considering ducking behind the pew in front.

The whole idea of the chairs was that they could be removed or moved around sometimes, to allow something more creative at the front. So far this hasn't happened, but in the fear that one day this could mean Liturgical Dance, the senior Stewards are thinking that they might have to nail the chairs down.

Raked Seating

The great advantage of seats is that you can achieve more informal arrangements - such as the raked angles of the seating here. This means that we can feel more all together, rather than being sermon cannon fodder - but without the disadvantage of having to make eye contact with other congregation members.

"C" and "D" have identified the great advantage of the raked arrangement. They get a row to themselves, and nobody can do anything about it.

"In the round"
This is the logical conclusion of seating. Knowing that we're never going to get as many attending as the building was designed for, we can put chairs "in the round". This is a typical arrangement in the Beaker Moot House.

You will see how "in the round" combines informality with maximum embarrassment, as congregation members desperately try to avoid eye contact with the people opposite - especially in the blessing at the end, as all the men try to look at the floor, and avoid holding hands with any other men they were unwise enough to sit next to.

This can also be the most entertaining of seating arrangements - as every time the congregation stands up to sing a song, you can remove a couple of chairs. When the music stops, however, try to avoid sitting on the Archdruid's lap.

The circular arrangement also emphasises that we are all equal. Whereas in the other arrangements the focus of the seating was the preacher at the front, when seated "in the round" even the Archdruid's throne is just one of the seats in the circle. Although we have to space the adjacent seats out slightly to make space for the dais.