New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-08
COST OF CHURCHGOLNG.

COST OF CHURCH-GOLNG.
PEW RENTS N POPULAR CHURCHES-rHE EXPENSE
OFTEN so GREAT As TO DETER FAMILIES OF
MODERATE MFANs-sYsTEMs IN USE IN LEADING
CHURCHES OF VARIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
Probably not many New Workers fully COM
prehend how large is the amount OF money which s an
nually spent in maintaining preaching and supporting
the churches in this city The cost of churcheong is
becoming matter of no small 10 those who are
regiousy inclined The price Of pew in many cases
equals IL does not exceed the annual house rent OF
family and single sitting often so expenslvea 70
put an eligible place beyond the reach OF man OF moder
ate means churches all nearly all OF the pews
are sold and certain percentage Of groundrent PAID
annually by the owners ~ some portion Of the pews
are sold and the remainder rented. In others
fixed valuation placed each pew, which the hoder Is
required pay while in others still the Vauaton Is
fixed and the pews are sold auction, at premium to
highest bidder In many churches the system OF SUD
letting il in usetha s If pew-hoder does not wish to
occupy entire pew, he leases part OF H. In some
cases pew-hoder who wishes TO dispose Of portion OF
his pew is compelled to sell at pro rata estimate Where
no restriction Of this sort s made the practice OF sub
letting becomes matter OF speculation and source OF
pecunary profit to the pewhoders. In churches where
unsold and unrcnted peWs found many are
present seeking free seats from Sunday 10 sunday VINO
never pay a cent for the support OF the church.
Inquiries have been made recently as To the cost OF
church going in various prominent churches in this city
and Brooklyn and Of the churches visited by TRIBUNE
reporter all but either sell let their pews The
exception is the Brooklyn Tabernacle the central
Presbyterian Church OF that city In this church the
voluntary plan pursued No seats are sold and none
are rented and no valuation is placed any pew. The
members Of the church and congregation are assigned
upon application TO the trustees Each one agrees
TO pay according his ability, and in the judgment
OF any appears TO the trustees 10 be defective on this
point they do not hesitate to assist him In deciding
The Tabernacle has between 600 and 700 pews, which
vary in the shape OF the building, and
it seats over 900 people. The amount of money vol
unfairly given in this church il known only to the ts
tees. The largest church in Sew-YOrk is Mr.. Hep
worths the Church Of the Disciples Its seating ca
pacity il $500. The number OF pews II 800 OF which
about 200 are neither sold rented. All the pews
have fixed valuation which varies from 81 200 10 $50
The pew-owners pay an annual ground rent OF II per
cent the valuation. while those who rent Pews pay SlS
per the valuation. The entire amount obtained
each year is about ~ 1000. II the entire church were
occupied the entire amount would De 100000 Eighteen
pews are valued 81 200 each, while the smallest aud
least eligible pews valued at $50 each In this church
there h no subleng The rents OF the pews Of Plymouth
Church in Brooklyn larger than those Of any
other which visited About 1000 sittines sold
annually and in addition there about 500 free seats
70 4i2033 The pews are sold at public auction
large premiums AT the last sale the highest pro MUM
went for $50 S535 $3.50, S52j 500, &C. the lowest
premium paid being go The sum total realized for The
present year, including premiums, was S7l.l6 The
premiums in chairs III the last rental were $50 part
OF pew cns ny f b nj e. ou e vrrn rae co IF
10 those who hold pews in Plymouth Church Is
Ali the pews OF Grace Church. NewYork, are sold.
When the church built IN s47. the selling price Of
the pews in the aggregate Sl25OOO The number or
pews They subject TO ground rent OF II per
cent their valuation The highest rent paid is slos;
the lowest So The church is endowed and much OF ts
support is derived from the profits OF leases Of down
town property The amount OF ground rents Is q Ioo:
ready sale always found and the prices paid
largely in advance OF valuations when were assessed
nearly 80 years ago, feWs nave Deen s0id lor
a year in the temporary absence OF thelr owners
and provided every Sunday for about 200 per
outside Of the regular congregation The system at
ST. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church combines bOtn
selling and renting. PERFORMERS pay l. per cent ground
rent valuation while the assessment OF those who
has a seating capacity OF about 200 There l3s
pews on the ground moor t"o-this Oh "nlch are sod
and nOmindlly free The gallery contains 81 pews
from 81 500 to 5000. sublethng is carried
siderable extent but speculation IN this matter is not
allowed. The entire amount raised from the pews for
the support OF the church is not far from $1,000.
The pews OF the Madison Square PRESBYTERIAN Church,
assessed in 1853. and therefore are not the proper
basis for relative comparison with the revenue from
on the ground floor range between $l75 and 81, 300
those in the gallery from 500 TO SO The ground rent
il IL per cent OF the valuation In OF removal and
for other causes pews are sometimes resold in recent
sale in this church the price % per cent greater than
the on gna valuation The plan Of subleting followed
here without any restriction, and at times much AZ
800 has been paid for q single sitting The annual
amount OF ground rents "a about $4,000.
The revenue OF the Broadway Tabernacle Congrega-
tionaD il very large. Since the beginning OF Dr. Tay
lors pastorate, three years ago, II has increased
from $4,000 10 $4,000. There are sos
pews the church, and al rented with the exception
OF small number In the gallery. The highest pew rent
paid is 1925 the lowest, $50. No premiums are paid
and there Is sale OF pews auction. The church
seats $40 The cost OF sitting Is about S25
year, and the average cost OF pew Sl25 The Calvary
Baptist Church, in entythirst. between Fifth and
sxth-aves has seating capacity Of 500 There are in
the church pews the Of which from 900
" $40 per anDum The yearly income from the pews
amounts 10000. Nearly all the pews rented In
Church OF the Messiah Cnitarian the rents paid on
both sold and rented pews are ID per cent Of
the valuation. The highest valuation $1,000
The church will about 1000. The entire
amount OF pew for the present year so 900.
The income OF Trinity Church Is largely derived from
endowments and the amount OF pew rents
ingly small The number OF Is 1873, OF which the
Trinity corporation l03, and private individuals
30 The amount Of ground rents paid by those owning
pevs for the year ls74-5 Is $4is the OF hired
pews are 81 ,025. The church will seat in pews $50
ON benches aises 144 settlers 100. Fifteen hun
dred persons can be accommodated.