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Have you ever wondered where the pews in our churches came from?

 

Today, we walk into church, find “our spot,” kneel, sit, and stand, all within the wooden embrace of a pew. But did you know, for centuries, there were no pews in Catholic churches at all?

 

Yes, early Christians stood during worship. The liturgy was seen as active participation, not passive sitting. Church was not a lecture hall but a heavenly banquet, a foretaste of the eternal liturgy. Standing was a sign of readiness, reverence, and resurrection.

 

Limited Seating: Some early churches, especially in the Roman and Byzantine world, had backless stone benches or sedilia built along the walls. But these were for the elderly and infirm. The vast majority of the faithful stood, attentive and alert, as the liturgy unfolded.

 

So where did pews come from? Here’s the surprise: pews were first introduced by Protestants. Why? Because preaching became the center of Protestant worship. Long sermons required long sitting, and pews provided comfort and order. Eventually, pews entered Catholic churches in the West, not because the Mass changed in essence, but because of cultural influence and practical need.

 

But here is the deeper lesson: the Church’s worship was never meant to be passive. In the early Church, you didn’t “sit back and watch.” You stood. You sang. You bowed. You responded. You were involved with your whole body.

 

Even today, notice that during the most sacred parts of the Mass, the Gospel, the Eucharistic Prayer, Communion, we do not sit. We stand or kneel, because these are moments of encounter.

 

So next time you sit in a pew, remember: it’s not an ancient Catholic invention, it’s a Protestant one. The Church simply baptized it, keeping the focus on active worship.

 

God bless you  

#catholicsonlineclass 

 

I pray you enjoyed this little fun fact.

 

PAX

 

Bob Bagley

State Faith Director