Special Pew for Wheel Chair Access

Our church is an open and affirming congregation so we have a ramp to allow folks in wheelchairs to make it in to our sanctuary. We had a new member join the choir that has a wheelchair. So the choir could practice together the choir director asked if practice area could be moved down stairs since there was no way the stairs could be modified in our historic building. This went fine, but then their wheelchair didn’t fit well in the choir area.

The choir director asked if part of a pew could be removed to make room, but they really didn’t want to lose the pew space. Then someone suggested if just the seat of the pew could move out of the way and then return when needed.

So a few tools and supplies were required:

1) Square and marker to mark the cut lines.

2) Masking tape to protect the wood.

3) Car jack to support the cut seat.

4) Mid length pew support, [we had these in stock].

5) Saber saw and flush hand saw.

6) Pry bar.

7) Two hinges.

8) Screw driver

9) Some plywood and support blocks to support the ends.

10) Stain and poly urethane to refinish the seat.

Since the minimum door size for wheelchair use is 36" we decided to use that for the size of the cut out. Our pews did have a slight curve, but it wasn't much. So we first covered the cut area with masking tape to protect the wood finish. Then we used a square to mark two lines 36" apart. Before we started cutting, a car jack was placed under the seat to support it during the cut. The saber saw did much of the cutting, but there was a bit the saw couldn't reach. So we finished it with a flush cutting saw, trying not to cut too much into the back support. When the wood seat was free, we used a pry bar to release the nails that came through the back. With the seat completely out, the cuts on the remaining seat edges were cleaned up. The seat's ends were cleaned up and two mortises were cut in the back edge of the seat for the hinges.

We added a piece of 7 ply 10mm plywood at each end for the seat to rest on when the seat is down. The left end has a support block screwed to the upright and also into the bottom of the fixed seat. The right end has a piece of plywood between the seat and the mid pew support leg. We cut this support to match the space available. The top of the support was screwed to the plywood and the plywood screwed to the under side of the fixed seat. The bottom of the support was "toe nailed" with three pocket screws into the floor. A spacer was calculated where the edge of the seat would be when up. Supported by this spacer the hinge holes were transferred to the back of the seat and screwed in place. The seat went up and down as expected.

With a little touch up the modification was so well received we did a second pew of the other side of the church. The choir member can move the seat up and down without any troubles, and really likes it. We hope this gives you enough ideas to make your church more accessible to all.

Work carefully and good luck. Carl.