Pew 54, where are you?



(St. John's Church in 1918)



If you’re in Pew 54, you might also be at St. John’s Church in Washington, D.C.  If that be the case, then those nearby might be saying, “Peace be with you, Mr. President.”

St. John’s Church - on16th and H Streets, NW, right across from the White House - is known as “The Church of the Presidents” with good reason.  From the time of its first service in 1816 until now, each president of the United States has attended either regular or occasional services there.  President Barack Obama is no exception.  This past Sunday, he and his family heard a sermon there by Rev. Dr. Luis Leon.  The Associated Press reports that

the Obama family also “participated in Holy Communion before strolling back through the park to the executive mansion.”

St. John’s website reports that “Pew 54 is the President’s Pew, and is reserved for the chief executive’s use when in attendance.”  However, Pew 54 is not solely reserved for the president.  When James Madison, who was a staunch believer in separation of church and state, was first offered his very own box pew free of charge, he declined.  Instead, an overall “President’s Pew” was established, which others could use when the president was not in attendance.  This was originally Pew 28, but became Pew 54 after the bigger box pews were abandoned in favor of the slip pews that are there today (allowing for more seating, thus increasing the

pew’s number). 

Presidents, of course, are not compelled to sit in Pew 54.  On special occasions, such as inaugurations and funerals, they often sit up front in Pew 62.  During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln (who didn’t belong to any specific church) would slip unnoticed into St. John’s Pew 89, which is right near the back door.  He would privately sit there during the service, and then quietly exit before it completely ended.

Dolley Madison died in 1849 - approximately 13 years after her husband, James.  Her funeral, which was held at St. John’s, was attended by many prominent Washingtonians.  One of her pallbearers was Stephen Pleasonton, a former clerk in the State Department.  He had singlehandedly saved all the major national records (including the Constitution and Declaration of Independence) when the British invaded Washington D.C. in 1814.

Resources

http://news.yahoo.com/obamas-walk-church-across-white-house-161436411.html

http://www.stjohns-dc.org/article.php?id=48

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/JohnsC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmaD6WECHV4

Copyright December 12, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved