Elm is a quintessentially English timber. Often used for making the hubs of cartwheels, the attraction is the grain of elm which twists and intermingles as it grows, helping to avoid tearing. Also used by coffin makers, it has a resistance to water.

Chapel chairs are now largely finished with an acid catalyst lacquer, one of the hardest wearing finishes known. Prior to that church chairs would simply be waxed, oiled or shellacked.

During the 17th-19th Century, parish churches which had church chairs installed were subject to pew rents, paid by the occupants for the privilege of sitting in the main aisle. The side aisles and galleries were used by members of the congregation who were not of a sufficiently high social standard. Our chairs are available to all statuses!

With a seat height of 42cm, these chairs are 34cm wide.