PEW 10E. pill, pug, poi, pen, elevated place or seat. hill. mound. pulp, elevated railed balcony or gallery. from Lat. podium, balcony. from G.:. 71-681ov. diminutive of irok, polls, foot). An inclosed seat in a church, appropriated to a per son or family. Such seats were in use in Eng lish churches some time before the Reformation. They were originally plain fixed benches, with partitions of wainscoting about three feet high, and sides of the width of the seat, paneled or carved. in the later Reformation period and probably under the influence of the Puritans, who, objecting to some parts of the service which they were compelled to attend, sought means to conceal their non-conformity, pews grew into large and high inelosu•es, containing from two to four seats. and fitted with doors. desks, and cushions. At first pews seem to have been as signed only to the patrons of churches. but gradu ally the system of appropriation was extended. It would appear by the CollImon law of England that every parishioner has a right to a -eat in the church, and that the churchwardens are bound to provide for each one best they can.
So, also, by the common law. the right to a pew is only a right to use it for the services of the church. and at times ‘‘ hen it is open for use. subject to the regulations of the ehureh: and there is no right of access to it for any other purpose except repairs. In the United States pews are sometimes the property of the church congregation and sold or rented for them, or they are individually owned or leased on per petual leases subject to a ground rent. Whether property in pews is real or personal now depends in many States upon the provisions of the statute law. The right of property in the pews of a church vest• in the trustee., while the right of use and oecupation at all customary times is in the purchaser or lessee, and the latter may main tain an action on the ease for a disturbance of this right.