With the development of mega-churches and the move by many churches toward a more contemporary style of worship, theater/auditorium seating has become a popular option, one that can reflect the changes in your worship facilities and services.

Here, five manufacturers weigh in on why this seating is a popular trend and what your church should know about this option.

1. The value of auditorium seating to places of worship is enormous when considering the important elements of seating capacity, cost, comfort, layout and ministry objectives. The self-lifting seat mechanism provides up to 40 percent additional seating real estate. By making use of the additional seating, you can reduce your per-occupant construction costs. In addition, auditorium seats can be installed in a radial fashion versus typical straight lines. This allows for improved sight lines from all seating areas. Auditorium seating lends itself to a more inviting modern ambience versus conventional worship seating.
--Seating Concepts

2. First impressions matter. The importance [in seating] is seen when those visiting your services for worship are there for a second, third and fourth time. You put a lot of hard work into insuring such impressions happen, from the time you invest in study preparation and choosing just the right service order to having a friendly support team and an accommodating worship facility. Whether you’re building a new facility or just improving your existing facility, [auditorium seating] will add a touch of refined tailoring guaranteed to create a great first impression on everyone who walks through the door.
--Bertolini

3. Today's church has evolved to reflect the needs of a new generation of worshipper, a larger facility that can accommodate its members' spiritual, social, as well as entertainment requirements. The sanctuary space is also evolving, emphasizing a greater degree of comfort while maintaining a traditional tone. [Auditorium seating] upholstered chairs satisfy traditional expectations while setting a new aesthetic standard for sanctuary seating.
--Hussey Seating

4. There are a number of factors fueling interest in auditorium seating for worship environments. One is the move to larger sanctuaries or worship centers. Another factor is that congregations are open to non-traditional seating to create inviting worship spaces. Worship seating styles continue to change to meet the varying needs of congregations, and their seating decisions are often based on their style of worship and the image they want to portray in the community.
--Sauder

 5. Throughout history, places of worship have lifted spirits and given sanctuary, often in spite of uncomfortable seating. From ascetic to majestic, [auditorium seating] combines physical comfort—pleasing textures, resilient cushions—with the comfort that comes from every person having a defined space.
--Irwin Seating

Theater/auditorium seating is a great alternative that can provide the members of your congregation a comfortable experience and complement the style of your worship. With so many color and fabric options, as well as a variety of available accessories, you can tailor this seating to precisely fit your facility.