OF THE ORIGIN OF SITTINGS IN CHURCHES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 240, 7 December 1877, Page 9

OF THE ORIGIN OF SITTINGS IN CHURCHES.

Ihe popular and useful part of church furniture known so familiarly to every one under the name of sittings -was not originally placed in the churches at the time of their erection, but was subsequently introduced, as it is not probable that such settled ideas of comfort troulcl have occurred^to tbe minds of the people so soon after the establishment of the churches themselves. It is difficult to determine the Precise date of their invention though it may be reasonably premised that they found their way into our churches so soon a^ their adaptability to the purposes for which they were required came to be recognised. When the people had become familiar to the use of the cimreh, no doubt many little improvements gradually suggested ™?nf CiC i' a -M th -7 a °, in CTcr 7 tbin g else the 6 more one becomes Si 2"^ antl nmon R these the idea of towing suitable accommodation for the wants of the people would not have been the least consideration. • Though at first sittings may not have appeared so. yettue many advantages they would possess in enabli.ig the people more conveniently to attend the services of the church fully counterbalanced any objection that might be raised against them on the grounds of their cumbersome or domestic nature, and would ultilurniturcI urniturc their P crmanentado P tion as a recognised part of church Originally these sittings were extremely plain and simple in their construction but later on they were formed more elaborately, many of them, especially those belonging to monastic edifices, being very beautitully and symbolically carved, and were known under different names such as stalls, pndieux, etc. Although churches had been in existence in England in the sixth century yet it was not until eight centuries later that the sittings were placed m them. Previously to this time the people used to seek tor convenient, places for themselves, many of them resting on the altar tombs, while others brought little rugs and mats with them ana perched themselves on the buttresses of the walls or pillars. It is easily to be imagined what a scene of confusion must sometimes prevail where everyone is obliged to seek a place for himself, and therefore any arrangement that would provide both comfort and convenience to the people would necessarily be most acceptable to them. Ihe pews, as constructed in Anglican churches, were not in vo»uc until the seventeenth century, and were quite different from the old cuurch seats inasmuch as they consisted of several <• seats enclosed together, while tbe former were simply open • benches arranged so that the people always faced the altar, which they would be unable to do in the pews. i- .. In ™ outlst ic churches the places allotted to the people were quite ! distinct from those occupied by tbe inmates of the monastery. The ! clergy occupied the stalls in the choir, while the monks or nuns had places of their own in the triforium. apart from, and above the congregation, where they could conveniently observe the service, while at the same time, if desired, the church itself could be carefully watched by them, and yet they be partially unobserved themselves. The men ami women m the parish were also placed in separate parts of the church, though not concealed from one another as in the Oriental clmrcnes. Ihe List practice was continued in England long after the lictormation, move particularly at Leverton in Lancashire, where as late as the end of the sixteenth century the "women's pews" appear enumerated among the items in tbe parish accounts. This was no ooubt, a remnant of monastic discipline transmitted from bygone In the country places in England the lord of the manor frequently owned one of the aisles in the church he attended which he kept in repair at his own expense, having the privilege of interring his family within its walls. His seat with the armorial bearings over it was situated here, while those of his tenants were usually placed behind