Notched Pews

Post date: Feb 4, 2018 8:58:29 PM

Have you ever wondered why one pew in the hallway leading to the dining room of the church has a peculiarnotch cut out in the center alone the top edge? No, it wasn’t the result of vandalism. Before the Great Fire, the old church had rows of long pews down the center of the sanctuary, and were flanked by shorter pews on either side, making tow aisles from back to front. In years past, it was considered unseemly for men and women to worship side by side, and a “wooden curtain” was set in the tops of the pews. This length of woodseparated the men and older boys who sat with their fathers on the west side of the church, from the women,babies and young boys and girls who sat on the east half. Love always finds a way, however, and courting couples managed to enter the church about the same time, part to go down their respective aisles, and meet again at a chosen pew, to sit side by side, but safely separated by the pole between them at shoulder height. There are five of the short pews in the balcony, and two in the basement hall. There is only one of the notched pews in the hall, and it is supposed many were destroyed in the fire.

By Marie Mahle, Member of the Historical Committee, September 1981 Messenger