When I moved to a new country one of my first experiences left me feeling unwelcome After finding a seat in the little church where my husband was preaching that day a gruff older gentleman startled me when he said ldquo Move along down rdquo His wife apologized as she explained that I was sitting in the pew they always occupied Years later I learned that congregations used to rent out pews which raised money for the church and also ensured no one could take another person rsquo s seat Apparently some of that mentality carried on through the decades
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