A long wooden bench with a back, typically arranged in rows in a church for seating congregation members during services.
From Old French 'puie' meaning 'balcony' or 'elevated place,' from Latin 'podium.' Originally referred to raised platforms or galleries in medieval churches before evolving to mean the benches themselves.
Church pews weren't always common - for centuries, congregations stood throughout services or brought their own chairs. The introduction of fixed pews in the 16th century actually caused controversy, as some saw them as promoting laziness during worship!
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