Pewholders’ Rights

Pewholders’ Rights

From the book The Clergyman’s Hand-book of Law, about Pewholders’ Rights (1): A pewholder has the exclusive right to occupy his pew when the house is used for the purpose for which it was erected; but he can not convert his pew to other purposes not contemplated.441 If he has paid his pew-rent according to agreement, he is entitled to use his pew on all occasions when the house is occupied, even when it is open for purposes different from those mentioned in the conveyance thereof; and he has the right to exclude all others from his pew by fastening the door or otherwise, and any one who enters his pew knowing the facts, is a trespasser and liable to an action for damages.442 The owner of a pew has no right to put an offensive covering thereon nor use his pew in any way to the annoyance of the congregation or not in keeping with the place and conditions. By placing anything offensive about his pew, he may be liable for maintaining a nuisance, and such offensive thing may be removed; but, as far as possible, it must be removed without damaging the pewholder’s property.443

Resources

Notes and References

1. Charles M. Scanlan, The Clergyman’s Hand-book of Law. The Law of Church and Grave (1909), Benziger Brothers, New York, Cincinnati, Chicago

See Also

• Religion
• Church