Passing on the Pews

I have to admit that each Sunday when we would go to Church we'd always sit on the left side of the chapel on the first row in front of the door.  If we came a little late and someone was sitting there we were a little disappointed.  I have smiled at many of the wills in which someone is bequeathed the pews at the church the deceased attended.  We don't have paid ministry and we don't have paid seats--we just have to get to church early if we want to sit in our favorite spot!

Paying for church pews started in the 1300's in England.  This practice came to America according to Wikipedia because the churches were not supported by the government like they had been in other countries and selling pews became a source of income for the local churches.  It also provided a social status for the owners of the pews.  In an inventory list I saw this week the appraisers listed six pews appraised at $30.00. According to what I read the idea of selling pews became less popular in England in the 1860's and 1870's and an organization was formed called the Free and Open Church Association which discouraged selling pews.  I assume buying pews in the churches in the United States also went away.  Members of those churches just had to come early too!