As opposed to formal pew-renting, which characterised less affluent Anglican churches in England, wealthier churches often used informal pew-renting. In this form, congregants were expected to “tip” pew-openers—themselves generally from the working class—a sixpence, shilling or half-a-crown, to obtain favourable seating for a single service. But the “tips” were actually bribes, and according to popular descriptions, pew-openers frequently relegated those financially unable to “tip” to much less desirable seating. Over the centuries the English clergy has endured many insulting and coarse epithets, such as calling a chicken’s backside “the parson’s nose” and referring to urination as “shaking hands with the vicar.” But no role has historically engendered so much constant suspicion and hatred as has the pew-opener. This article investigates the role of the pew-opener and the surrounding controversy, and the churches’ response to pew-openers’ behavior.

与正式的皮尤租借不同，后者的特点是英格兰不那么富裕的英国国教教堂，而较富裕的教堂通常使用非正式的皮尤租借。在这种形式下，人们期望杂物会“倾倒”排便工人-他们通常是工人阶级-六便士，先令或半冠冕，以便为一次服务获得有利的座位。但是“小费”实际上是贿赂，而且根据流行的描述，开座位的人经常把那些经济上无法“小费”给那些不太理想的座位的人降级。几个世纪以来，英国神职人员忍受了许多侮辱性和粗俗的称谓，例如称鸡的背面为“牧师的鼻子”，称小便为“与牧师握手”。但是，从历史上看，没有哪个角色能像这样的“坐垫长椅”引起如此多的持续怀疑和仇恨。