[Magdalen] Need chairs for nave!

[Susan Hutchinson]

On 2015-01-17, at 2:41 PM, ME Michaud wrote:

> And what do we do with our purses? Hats & gloves? Phones?
> And where do we set our prayer books?
> At last the mch-maligned airline seat has a pocket.
> -M

A parish on Vancouver Island where I was subbing a few years ago had had a fire a decade previously. It isn't a large parish, but has a ASA of 40ish. The fire had destroyed the 90 year old wooden church building. The church was the only one in the area so it was rebuilt, but rather than replicate the old style, a modern, aesthetically pleasing building was designed. No dark stained glass behind the altar, but clear glass windows that brought in the wonderful sea and mountain vista outside.

The parish also bought modern latching chairs that stacked when not wanted. Roger, they were nice and ample and quite comfortable. Some modern church chairs have book racks built in, but these did not. The solution? Someone made slipcovers for the back of the chairs in a sturdy jacquard fabric, pockets were included on the back of each for prayerbooks and hymnbooks. Hooks could have been provided for purses, I suppose, but there were plenty of seats, and a cloak rail at the back of the nave for coats.

It was clear to me that the enterprising slipcover makers had not been able to get enough fabric in one dye lot. So they purchased three slightly different dye lots of the same blue and spread them throughout the nave. It looks lovely and tones in well with natural blues and greens of sea and sky. 

Side windows, also of glass offer views of a cottage style garden and courtyard with fruit trees. The building is L shaped with the nave and chancel on one leg and a bright parish hall/kitchen on the other. It's a lovely little place with a growing ministry in the community and a growing attendance on Sunday mornings and a Friday community lunch.

I must say I personally like chairs over pews. I am a person of substance and short. The pews in many older churches are closely spaced and are very uncomfortable. Not only is it difficult to get in, but once in there, it is difficult to stand without bending ones knees. Not a good posture for singing or praying. Not only are chairs more flexible for using the space, but they can be flexible for the variety of people who sit in them. That is far more hospitable in this day and age, when few of us are getting smaller. 

blessings




The Rev. Susan Hutchinson
604-319-7148
shutchinsonca at gmail.com