Church furniture for small budgets

Altars, ambos and pews are built to order by church furniture makers and do not come in a cardboard box. What does come in a box is everything around them: the missal stand, the votive stand, a kneeler for the shrine, chairs for the overflow, and the small hardware that keeps a pew tidy. This guide covers those pieces, which a parish can order online without a quote.

Missal stands and lecterns

A missal stand holds the Roman Missal on the altar at an angle the priest can read. Brass stands in a cross or IHS pattern are the traditional choice and come in 8 to 12 inch widths; wood stands are lighter and quieter to move. Measure the missal: an altar edition needs a ledge at least 9 inches wide and a back tall enough to hold the book open.

Tabletop lecterns in acrylic or wood serve a lector at a side table, a cantor, or a meeting room. Full-height lecterns and pulpits in solid wood are sold flat-packed and are adequate for a hall or a mission chapel; a church ambo is usually a custom piece.

Votive stands and offering boxes

A votive stand is a wrought-iron rack of cups, 15 to 50, in which votive lights burn before a statue. Choose by the devotion's traffic and the space: a 25-cup stand is about two feet wide and the usual size for a side shrine. Some stands include a locking offering box in the base so the coins stay with the candles. Electric votive stands, with switches or coin slots, are sold for churches that cannot burn open flames.

Offering and tithe boxes are lockable wood or metal boxes for a wall or a table near the door. A box with a slot and a hinged, keyed door is enough for most parishes; look for one with two keys.

Kneelers, chairs and cushions

A prie-dieu is a single kneeler with an armrest, used at a shrine, for a bride and groom, or in a confessional. Wood models in oak or beech are sold assembled or in two pieces; padded kneelers with a shelf are the practical version. Portable folding kneelers go to cemeteries and sickrooms.

Stackable church chairs with a book rack under the seat and a kneeler option cover overflow seating and chapels without pews. They are sold singly or in packs of four, in fabric and vinyl; vinyl cleans better in a hall. Pew cushions are sold by the foot or in standard lengths of 4 to 6 feet and need the pew depth measured first.

Pew accessories

• Reserved signs and clips that hook over the pew end for weddings and funerals; sold in dozens.
• Book racks and envelope holders that screw to the pew back; measure the back's thickness and the spacing of existing holes.
• Communion cup holders for congregations that use individual cups, in strips that mount under the rack.
• Hymn boards and number cards for announcing hymns; the cards come in sets of 0 to 9 in several sizes, so check that the card size matches the board.
• Attendance pads for pews in churches that record attendance.

What to check before ordering furniture online

1. Assembly: many wood pieces ship flat; the listing says whether tools are included.
2. Finish: oak, walnut and cherry stains vary between makers, so match to a sample if the piece sits beside existing woodwork.
3. Weight and freight: a 25-cup votive stand is heavy; check that the listing ships to the address and whether it comes on a pallet.
4. Returns: furniture is often final sale once assembled. Measure twice.

Questions