[Magdalen] Need chairs for nave!

[Lesley de Voil]

Yes, those old pews could be a right pain too. In the 60's and70's,
thanks to the efforts of a much-loved but now deceased precentor who
was a practising artist, the whole Diocese was involved in the
designing and making of needlepoint cushions for all the cedar pews.
The Ladychapel cushions depicted the Holy Family in then-contemporary
surroundings, while the nave cushions all contained Australian scenes,
flora and fauna. They are presently receiving conservation attention
before being mounted in display cases. I have problems with this. I
tend to think that as art objects made for use, they should be used
until they become unserviceable. (Yes, yes, I know, the Syon cope
wouldn't last long if it was used regularly either.)

Regards
Lesley de Voil

On 1/17/15, James Oppenheimer-Crawford <oppenheimerjw at gmail.com> wrote:
> When chairs are clipped into rows, they are generally too close together
> for comfort anyway.  There's no need for clamps and clips.  However, if the
> chairs make uncomfortable noise and are not comfortable, they can be sold
> on ebay. The high price for chairs is WELL worth the expenditure.  Of
> course, if you have the proposed chair party(ies, until no longer needed),
> the folks who sit in them will make that call.
>
> Re the century-old pews, my spouse will not attend our old parish for any
> function because we still have those wonderful old pews which were hideous
> the day they were installed, and destroy a person's back.
>
> James W. Oppenheimer-Crawford
> *"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better
> for people coming behind you, and you don't do it, you're wasting your time
> on this Earth."  -- *Roberto Clemente
>
> On Sat, Jan 17, 2015 at 4:08 AM, Lesley de Voil <lesleymdv at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Roger says:
>> <Something I have known is to invite people to sponsor a chair, a
>> little plaque being placed on the back to indicate their sponsorship.>
>>
>> Our local cathedral in its wisdom got rid of its red cedar pews (>100
>> years old) last year and replaced them with moulded wood modular
>> chairs which make that horrible metallic grating sound when you try to
>> shift them unobtrusively. They are universally disliked, i.e. not one
>> person I have spoken to has had anything positive to say about them.
>> Despite their curves, they are not comfortable to sit in. Because they
>> are more readily moveable, they do  get moved more frequently, and the
>> verger has more work than previously! As well, I notice that the
>> plastic clips for holding them in rows are more fragile than expected.
>> I somehow think that there are few people in the congregation who
>> would appreciate having their name associated with this little effort.
>>
>> Regards
>> Lesley de Voil
>>
>