How to Buy Church Pews
By Stephen J. Ferrandi

Buying church pews is a task that has been part of the church building or renovation process for nearly five hundred years.  Here is a primer to understand to help you purchase your pews.

If the environment of the Church or PraiseBuilding is more traditional, the auditorium space dedicated to worship services and or the style of worship requires the structure and convenience that fixed seating can offer, traditional pews may be the best solution to the seating requirement.

Pews may work best if the environment of the PraiseBuilding requires the permanence and structure that pews offer.  If the congregation is large enough to require multiple services on Sabbath, pews offer the convenience of not requiring set up and straightening between services.  In a traditional sanctuary, pews convey the feeling of permanence that only fine furniture can.  Unlike movable chairs or theater seats, pews offer the styling of true quality furniture.  Additionally pews offer a comfortable durable and low maintenance affordable seating system capable of fitting into almost any worship style, décor or budget.

Pews are available in three basic seating formats.  These options begin with the fully wooden pew that features no padding or upholstery.  This is the most traditional bench-like style which has been popular with traditional congregations for hundreds of years.  The construction of this pew typically features wooden sides called end caps that support a bench style seat with a matching wooden back.  The top of the back is adorned with a hardwood cap rail. The rear of the seat may feature wooden bookracks.

All wooden pews are not created equally.

They may look the same on the outside, but under that fine wood veneer they may be constructed from plywood, particleboard, engineered hardwood, or solid hardwood lumber.  The lumber might be fastened together using nails, screws, adhesives or mortise and tendon construction.  The finished wood could be stained and finished solid hardwood or wooden veneer.  Naturally, with so many options, the cost of a “wooden” pew can vary drastically.

All pews whether “wooden” or “upholstered” are sold by the linear foot.  The most costly portion of the pw is the end cap or side panels.  Most pew manufacturers will employ one of construction methods for producing the side panel.  In the first method, strips of solid oak or other hardwood of similar length and width are glued together and placed under pressure using hydraulic clamps.  Once dry, the clamps are removed, releasing a single solid piece of lumber that is now substantially stronger than the same size piece of lumber if sawed from a tree.  

The second method incorporates a core of engineered hardwood or particle board encapsulated in a shell of solid lumber of lumber.  This engineered system in then covered in a matching veneer and finished to match the rest of the pew. 

Both of these methods of construction have their benefits.  Under most circumstances, the butcher block or glued together hardwood style will be more expensive than the composite style.  However, the butcher-block pew end can be re-finished in forty years, while the composit probably can’t be.

Pricing Pews
When ordering pews, the salesperson typically takes the costs of end panels – typically selected from a catalogue of a dozen options or more -  and adds both of these pew ends to the cost per linear foot for the pew body to arrive at a price  per pew.   Under this scenario, if a pew sold for $40.00 per linear foot and the pew were 10 feet in length the cost would be determined by adding the cost of the pews ends, say $150 each to the linear foot measurement.

               EXAMPLE: Pew end panel style “A”  cost $150.00 each = $300.00
                                    Body style seat “D” cost $40.00 per linear foot  x 10 linear feet = $400.00
                                    The costs of the pew is determined by adding the pew end price of
                                    $300 is then added to the linear foot cost of the body of the pew –
                                    $400 to yield a cost per 10” pew of $700.00 

In recent years, a pew that features an upholstered seat with a wooden back or a upholstered back has outsold solid wooden pews.  The seat portion of this pew is typically constructed from plywood to which a bed of foam is adhered.  Over this upholster foam is stretched a commercial grade seating fabric.  This upholstered seat is then paired with either a standard wood back or upholstered rear, to make the pew body.  This body style is then attached to the pew ends to make the pew.

Although upholstered pews are less expensive than upholstered pews, the real difference doesn’t appear until one compares a fully upholstered pew to a solid wooden pew.

The most inexpensive pew style and currently the most popular is the fully upholstered pew.  This body style features a plywood seat and back covered in foam and wrapped in upholstered fabric.  The sole option with this style of pew is whether to upholster the rear of the pew or to cover it with a veneer of wood.   The rear of the pew is visible to the pew behind it.

Congregations considering what body style to purchase should take the following variable into consideration.
Length of the typical worship service -  If the typical worship service is 90 minutes or les, a wooden seat may work fine.  If the typical service is several hours, an upholstered seat will be more comfortable and appreciated by the congregation. 

Budget - If the budget is tight, it makes sense to consider a fully upholstered pew.

Style of Worship – Catholic, Episcopal and Lutheran congregations have a style or worship that tends to favor either wooden or upholstered seated pews.  Most Baptist or evangelical churches tend to favor fully upholstered pews.  The most popular style currently sold is a fully upholstered pew.

Interior Design  - Most older traditional sanctuaries can work with any pew body style when paired with pew ends the incorporate the existing architecture style within the end panels – colonial pew ends for colonial churches, or traditional end panels for more traditional sanctuary interiors or more modern or contemporary end panels or contemporary sanctuaries.

Fire code dictates that each person will occupy 18 inches or pew space.  The reality is that since people like a little elbow room between them and their ever expanding waistlines, 21 inches is more realistic.  Fire code mandates certain rules for fixed seating.

The back of the pew must be a minimum of 36 inches to the back of the next rows of seat.  Pews can only be a maximum of 22 feet, 6 inches long unless an aisle is immediately in front of the pews for a quick egress (exit) .   The rule here is that in case of an emergency, one should not have to wait for more than seven people to exit their seat before approaching the end of the pew.    

Meet the Pew Sales person    
Historically, worship furniture has been sold by manufacturers’ sales representatives who will travel to your church and will make a pew presentation to your building committee.  In this presentation, the salesperson will bring with them several pew samples – typically three feet long pews with two different end panels that can showcase the manufactures abilities. After explaining and demonstrating the benefits of the company or companies they represent and show all of the options, pew end panels, body styles and fabric selections, the salesperson will explain how his or her firm will work with your congregation, church architect, general contractor, liturgical consultant and others.  At some point, the conversation will turn to scheduling and delivery dates and of course price.  It is important that you understand the benefits of each of the firms interviewed – typically most church committees prefer to interview three or four pew manufacturers reps before placing their order.   
 
A good sales rep, is just as important as the firm making the pews.  Your salesperson can explain not only the manufacturing process, but will verify measurements prior to fulfilling the order and will be part of the team as the church is constructed making sure that your pews will be delivered according to the time scheduled agreed.
When purchasing church pews make sure that you evaluate each of the follow criteria:

Price
Quality
Appearance
Comfort
Timely Delivery
Warranty

Purchasing pews is both a very critical decision and expensive undertaking in the life of your church.  It should not be rushed.  Take the time to understand the product and company before making a decision.  Many churches will spend thirty, forty  or fifty thousand dollars with this purchase.  In fact, it is not uncommon for some very large churches to spend more than three or four hundred thousand dollars on pews. Ask questions.  Learn everything you can and become a informed consumer before purchasing furniture that will be part of your church for more than a generation.