Empathy List Archives

M

MPGish

Tue, Aug 19, 2025 7:30 PM

Hello from Canada.Is anyone able to explain the tradition of paying for a seat/pew in a Church, please?i.e. what is 'Parts'; 'rent of pew'; plus it looks as though they pay 'seat per annum'?
In the Churches I'm familiar with, there is no 'seat fee' but people make voluntary financial contributions to keep the church operating, through a passing of the collection plate, cash or envelopes.
In this 'seat rent' tradition of this notice, would the congregants be making financial contributions in addition to their fees to use a particular seat?
In my church experience, people (usually older) got very indignant if someone sat in 'their' seat, as though they owned it. I never understood that but seeing these 'seat paying' traditions I understand where that sense of ownership may have come from, even if it isn't valid in our times and places.
Is it still in practice in churches to have people pay for their own seats and pews, that nobody else can sit in?
Thank you, Peggy

Today's Topics: 1. New Content - First Glendermott Presbyterian Church, Glendermott Presbytery, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland: Pew Holders & Stipend Payers 1908

Hello from Canada.Is anyone able to explain the tradition of paying for a seat/pew in a Church, please?i.e. what is 'Parts'; 'rent of pew'; plus it looks as though they pay 'seat per annum'? In the Churches I'm familiar with, there is no 'seat fee' but people make voluntary financial contributions to keep the church operating, through a passing of the collection plate, cash or envelopes. In this 'seat rent' tradition of this notice, would the congregants be making financial contributions in addition to their fees to use a particular seat? In my church experience, people (usually older) got very indignant if someone sat in 'their' seat, as though they owned it. I never understood that but seeing these 'seat paying' traditions I understand where that sense of ownership may have come from, even if it isn't valid in our times and places. Is it still in practice in churches to have people pay for their own seats and pews, that nobody else can sit in? Thank you, Peggy Today's Topics: 1. New Content - First Glendermott Presbyterian Church, Glendermott Presbytery, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland: Pew Holders & Stipend Payers 1908

GW

Gordon Wilkinson

Wed, Aug 20, 2025 5:40 AM

Hi Peggy,
I am Familiar with the concept of a pew rent, but (thankfully) haven't
encountered it in any Christian churches I've entered in Australia or
Korea. It's not a custom here any more.
Gordon

On 20/08/2025 5:00 am, MPGish via CoTyroneList wrote:

Hello from Canada.
Is anyone able to explain the tradition of paying for a seat/pew in a
Church, please?
i.e. what is 'Parts'; 'rent of pew'; plus it looks as though they pay
'seat per annum'?

In the Churches I'm familiar with, there is no 'seat fee' but people
make voluntary financial contributions to keep the church operating,
through a passing of the collection plate, cash or envelopes.

In this 'seat rent' tradition of this notice, would the congregants be
making financial contributions in addition to their fees to use a
particular seat?

In my church experience, people (usually older) got very indignant if
someone sat in 'their' seat, as though they owned it.
I never understood that but seeing these 'seat paying' traditions I
understand where that sense of ownership may have come from, even if
it isn't valid in our times and places.

Is it still in practice in churches to have people pay for their own
seats and pews, that nobody else can sit in?

Thank you, Peggy

Inline image

Today's Topics:
1. New Content - First Glendermott Presbyterian Church, Glendermott
Presbytery, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland: Pew Holders &
Stipend Payers 1908

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Hi Peggy, I am Familiar with the concept of a pew rent, but (thankfully) haven't encountered it in any Christian churches I've entered in Australia or Korea. It's not a custom here any more. Gordon On 20/08/2025 5:00 am, MPGish via CoTyroneList wrote: > Hello from Canada. > Is anyone able to explain the tradition of paying for a seat/pew in a > Church, please? > i.e. what is 'Parts'; 'rent of pew'; plus it looks as though they pay > 'seat per annum'? > > In the Churches I'm familiar with, there is no 'seat fee' but people > make voluntary financial contributions to keep the church operating, > through a passing of the collection plate, cash or envelopes. > > In this 'seat rent' tradition of this notice, would the congregants be > making financial contributions in addition to their fees to use a > particular seat? > > In my church experience, people (usually older) got very indignant if > someone sat in 'their' seat, as though they owned it. > I never understood that but seeing these 'seat paying' traditions I > understand where that sense of ownership may have come from, even if > it isn't valid in our times and places. > > Is it still in practice in churches to have people pay for their own > seats and pews, that nobody else can sit in? > > Thank you, Peggy > > > > Inline image > > Today's Topics: > 1. New Content - First Glendermott Presbyterian Church, Glendermott > Presbytery, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland: Pew Holders & > Stipend Payers 1908 > > ================================= > Send a Message to the List -cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com > List Archive -https://list.cotyroneireland.com/empathy/list/cotyronelist.list.cotyroneireland.com > Join the list by sending an email to -cotyronelist-subscribe@list.cotyroneireland.com > To receive the Digest version, send an email to -jamckane@gmail.com > Unsubscribe by sending an email to -cotyronelist-unsubscribe@list.cotyroneireland.com > =================================

DJ

Diane Jameson

Wed, Aug 20, 2025 5:50 AM

Early New England churches had pew fees. Some areas in these churches were colder / draftier than others in the winter. Paying for comfort was worth it for those with money.
Sent from Danni’s iPhone

On Aug 19, 2025, at 10:40 PM, Gordon Wilkinson via CoTyroneList <cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com> wrote:

Hi Peggy,
I am Familiar with the concept of a pew rent, but (thankfully) haven't encountered it in any Christian churches I've entered in Australia or Korea. It's not a custom here any more.
Gordon

On 20/08/2025 5:00 am, MPGish via CoTyroneList wrote:
Hello from Canada.

Is anyone able to explain the tradition of paying for a seat/pew in a Church, please?

i.e. what is 'Parts'; 'rent of pew'; plus it looks as though they pay 'seat per annum'?

In the Churches I'm familiar with, there is no 'seat fee' but people make voluntary financial contributions to keep the church operating, through a passing of the collection plate, cash or envelopes.

In this 'seat rent' tradition of this notice, would the congregants be making financial contributions in addition to their fees to use a particular seat?

In my church experience, people (usually older) got very indignant if someone sat in 'their' seat, as though they owned it.

I never understood that but seeing these 'seat paying' traditions I understand where that sense of ownership may have come from, even if it isn't valid in our times and places.

Is it still in practice in churches to have people pay for their own seats and pews, that nobody else can sit in?

Thank you, Peggy

Today's Topics:

New Content - First Glendermott Presbyterian Church, Glendermott Presbytery, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland: Pew Holders & Stipend Payers 1908
<pre class="moz-quote-pre" wrap="">

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Question re 'seat ownership' (CoTyroneList Digest, Vol 1799, Issue 1