The 6 Best Pulpit Chairs (and Why You Should Buy the Set)
Pulpit chairs have one job: let the pastor and platform guests sit with dignity, in full view of the whole congregation, for the entire service. No pressure.
That makes them one of the most visible pieces of furniture you'll ever buy. They're also one of the easiest to get wrong. The wrong height, a fabric that fights the carpet, or a center chair that doesn't match the side chairs, and everyone notices for years.
The good news is that this is a pretty simple decision once you know what to look for.
Before you shop
Side chairs and the center chair
A traditional set is two side chairs and one taller center chair for the pastor or presiding minister. On most of our chairs, the side chair is 44 inches high and the center chair is 48. Even if you only need one chair today, decide whether it's a side or a center chair, because they're built differently.
Buy the set. Seriously.
Here's the money-saving secret: our single chairs include $350 of freight in the price, because a chair ships on a pallet by itself. A set of three ships together on one pallet with free freight, and it costs about $1,000 less than buying three single chairs. All three are also built together in the same stain and fabric, so they match perfectly.
Match your pulpit
Most of our chairs belong to a family with a matching pulpit, communion table, and flower stand. Start with the style of your pulpit, and you'll almost always find the right chair.
Fabric is half the look
Every chair comes in 12 upholstery colors and fifteen stains (three at no extra charge). Burgundy with medium oak is the classic. Blue or green with a lighter stain reads more current.
Plan ahead
These are built to order in solid red oak, in about 14 weeks. They're made in the USA, arrive assembled, and carry a 10-year limited warranty.
The 6 best pulpit chairs
Prices below are for the set of three. Single chairs start at $1,345.
1. 822AS Contemporary Square Top: best modern pulpit chair
Clean, square lines and no carving. If your church is newer, or your platform has a contemporary pulpit, this is the chair. It looks especially sharp in blue. Set of three from $2,985.
2. NO 400 Straight Top: best simple traditional chair
A traditional upholstered chair without a lot of fuss. It fits a classic sanctuary without competing with a carved pulpit, and the center chair can take an optional crown back. Set of three from $2,998.
3. TPC-296 Scroll Top: best for a mixed-style sanctuary
A gentle scroll across the top mixes contemporary and traditional lines, so it suits almost any sanctuary. These are a little taller than most: 48 inch side chairs and a 52 inch center chair. Matches the TWP-105 pulpit and TCT-105 communion table. Set of three from $2,985.
4. NO 200 Rosette Carved: best carved chair under $3,000
Carved rosettes on a traditional frame. It has more detail than the straight top chairs for barely more money. The center chair can take an optional crown back. Set of three from $2,995.
5. TPC-603 Two-Tone Scroll Top: best two-tone chair
A white frame with stained arms and cap, fluting, and scrollwork. In a bright sanctuary with white trim, this set looks fantastic. Matches the TSP-620 colonial pulpit and TCT-605 communion table. 48 inch side chairs and a 52 inch center chair. Set of three from $2,985.
6. NO 500 Grapevine Carved: the showpiece
Carved grapes and leaves along the crest make this the most impressive chair we carry. It matches the NO 500 family of pulpits, communion tables, a flower stand, and a tithe box, so you can furnish the whole chancel in one style. Set of three from $3,300.
See every style, including the NO 900 dentil molding and 822TT two-tone square top, in our clergy chairs collection.
When a single chair makes sense
If you already have a matching set and need to replace one worn-out chair, or you only need a single chair for a guest speaker, buy the single. Pick the right height (side or center) and the same series, stain, and fabric as your other chairs. Just know that a brand-new chair can look a shade different next to ones that have aged for years.
Questions? Call us at 800-421-9678.
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