'Take-a-Pew' scheme sees historic pews recycled as home furniture

For the first time ever, historic church pews will be recycled as household furniture as part of a new and unique scheme set up in the Diocese of Hereford.

Take-A-Pew is a collaboration between the Church of England locally, social enterprise company EnviroAbility, and Herefordshire Council through their work with adults with learning difficulties.

“The group we are working with have been preparing pews at St Peter’s at Peterchurch as their guinea pig and after careful preparation to protect parts of the ancient building are now ready to cut pews to the lengths ordered,” said Martin Neicho of EnviroAbility, which will administer the scheme.

The Take-A-Pew project will enable a church to re-use pews and for members of the congregation and others to buy a pew, cut to their own requirements for use in their own homes. Churches will be able to sell their unwanted pews to those who want them at a reasonable price, rather than the present system which forces parishes to sell unwanted pews often at less than their market value and to companies that go on to make a big profit.

“It has taken a while to get everything in place, but all is now ready and the cutting of the pews will start on Wednesday 19 November. It’s very exciting for all of us involved and amazingly all 22 pews have been sold locally. Our belief that local people would love to have a bit of their own history and heritage has been vindicated,” added Neicho. “The result will be a unique and functional piece of furniture that incorporates an element of local history.”

The vicar, Simon Lockett, was also full of praise for the scheme. “The removal of the pews is the beginning of a huge project that will see the nave of St Peter’s turned into a children’s centre to serve all the people in Golden Valley," he said. “It’s still got a long way to go but local people have leapt at the chance to ‘take a pew’ which will create the space needed for the next stage of development.”

This project, the first of its kind anywhere in the country, will mean that a church will get a fair price and at the same time create opportunities for people with disabilities and others facing difficulties in the job market. Under the scheme they will work alongside experienced, qualified carpenters supported by staff from Herefordshire Council day opportunities, providing a chance for those furthest from the job market to improve their skills and employability.