are the fixed benches on which people sit in the nave. Once there
were no seats in churches and the congregation stood or knelt. Later,
in some churches including St James, a few seats were attached to
the wall for old and sick people, and from this comes the saying,
"The weakest go to the wall"
Fixed seats for all the people were introduced about the 15th century.
Each pew has a shelf for hymn books, etc. and information cards, including
welcome cards and planned giving envelopes, are put here for the congregation.
Each pew also has several hassocks, or kneelers, for people to kneel
on during services. The creation of a series of new kneelers
was a millennium project for the church which involved a group of
women who used their talents and artistic energy to give something
lasting to St James's Church. Some show the emblems for the guides
and scouts, Mothers Union and New Start. The other designs are taken
from the tiles and stained glass windows in the church. There are
four kneelers that depict the four seasons. There is also a long kneeler
which is used for weddings. To see them all
look at the page Kneelers.