Church Pew Project

I got this pew several years ago from the church I attend.  This one was from the choir loft that they removed.  The rest of the church still has these pews.  I bought mine for $25.   I think that was a great deal.  You can't really tell from these photos but the pew only has one arm-leg side.  The other side was attached to the wall in the church.  That was a problem because I don't have the wood working skills to make another side to match.  So the pew sat in my basement for a long time.  I kept trying to figure out a way I could fix it without ruining it.  I never did.

Fast forward several years and I meet a master carpenter on an online dating site (we are getting married)  and he knows exactly how to get my pew looking lovely.  The wide boards of the seat and back are wide pine boards that looked better painted as they were in the church.  The arm rest and the back trim was maple that had been painted brown several times.  My man was able to cut the missing scroll side out of some maple in his shop.  As you are looking at the picture the left side is the new arm and the right side is the original.  Isn't it pretty and I would not be able to tell the difference if I didn't know which side was which.

My church is over 150 years old.  I am not sure if the pews are that old but I am pretty sure they are close to that old.  The seat is quite narrow and a bit uncomfortable but I have gotten used to them at church.  Maybe 18 years ago we got cushions for the pews at church and that made them slightly more comfortable.  I think I am going to make a cushion for my pew too.  I have a vintage salt bag that I think I am going to use.  It reminds me of  the Bible verse from Matthew.

Matthew 5:13
[ Salt and Light ] “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 

I think it will finish my pew off nicely.  I love it just the way it is too.