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Free seats for all
To a 21st century mindset, it seems incredible to think that where you sat was determined by what you could afford to put in the plate. The Incorporated Church Building Society was set up to help ‘keep England holy’ as by 1815 only around half the population belonged to the church of England. Founded in 1818, it was the principal voluntary Society for promoting the building, enlargement, re-seating, and restoration of Anglican Churches throughout England and Wales. Indeed 30 years later Mrs C.F. Alexander could still write "The rich man in his castle, The poor man at his gate; God made them high or lowly, And ordered their estate" Queen Victoria, when she visited Whippingham Church on the Isle of Wight even had her own entrance! This is why you will see in many churches a simple wooden commemorative board so that the congregation could see that ALL seats were free...
by Basher Eyre
Created: Mon, 3 Mar 2025, Updated: Mon, 3 Mar 2025
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