November 23, 2023

TRINITY UNITED GETS RID OF PEWS, OPENS CHURCH FLOOR TO EVENT SPACE AND RENTALS

GRAVENHURST — Since 1872 the Trinity United Church has been welcoming worshippers into its pews.

Saturday if you’re at their craft sale you’ll have to find a new chair — if you want to sit a spell.

The red silver-posters are tucked at the back stacked five-high.

It’s all to make room for the church’s large expansive Christmas sale that will fill the full floor.

Because last week church members unhinged the pews and removed the last of the 12-foot blond oak benches dating back many unknown decades.

**Church member Dr. Tom Irvine has a smile on his face as he wonders how the new space has filled up so fast with crafts after the pews were removed last week from Trinity United Church in Gravenhurst.**

Where once there were 12 rows divided by a centre aisle, each person will now have their own chairs for services and concerts.

And maybe a little more knee room.

So much for sliding smoothly six feet from either side to centre.

**Dave Trethewey, another church member, shows the old and new the week before the final removal took place Thursday and Friday last week.**

Over the past few years a row at the back was taken out on one side to accommodate wheelchairs. And recently a couple of front pew benches were removed to accommodate more room at the front for concerts etc.

But now the 12-footers are all gone sold off each for a $100 church donation. A couple of buyers took more than one.

Rev. Carol-Ann Chapman said, sadly, it’s a sign of the times with “fewer people attending church now.”

So the church board decision was to make room for more events and rentals in the space where thousands have sat straight up to enjoy Sunday sermons and other community concerts and events — sometimes not so comfortably for longer periods of time.

The minister said they will continue to have Sunday morning church services when they will have out the new chairs with padded seats.

**From the balcony at the back this photo shows just how large a space is now available for all kinds of potential uses, still along with Sunday morning church services using chairs instead of pews.**

This is not a new concept for many aging churches and their older parishioners.

The chairs actually came from an Elliot Lake Church, which bought them before deciding against removing the pews and similarly opening the church floor. But then they closed when they amalgamated with another church and offered Trinity a great deal on buying the 148 chairs.

Trinity has long been a welcome musical alternative venue to the Opera House at lower rates and often shares attendance proceeds 50-50 with the group renting.

Chapman said the church is open discussing other rental options as it explores ways to keep its doors open. It’s already become a hub for many social groups in Gravenhurst including as Gravenhurst Against Poverty and a women’s drop-in. Alcholics Annonymous has held its meeting there for years.

But Saturday starting a 9:30 a.m. the first event of the post pew era takes place with a wide array of offerings beyond communion and passing the collection plate.

The popular Christmas sale also frees up a little more room downstairs where at 11 a.m. an always enjoyable luncheon and social takes place.

And follows the Santa Claus parade when many shoppers combine both.

But if you really want to sit in a pew — six remain on the balcony — just without the crafts and sandwiches without the crusts.