mourners' bench

mourners' bench (plural mourners' benches)

1. A bench, seat, rail, pew, etc. set aside for mourners and repentant sinners, and is usually found at the front of a revival meeting or evangelical church.
   • 1940 - Salvation by Langston Hughes

     That night I was escorted to the front row and placed on the mourners' bench with all the other young sinners, who had not yet been brought to Jesus.

   • 1958 - Home From The Hill by William Humphrey

     But what annoyed Fred was having the christening of his son in the very best church in town spoiled by the attendance of any revivalists of the mourners’ bench sort.

   • 1992 - The Mourner's Bench from the album But, What Ends When The Symbols Shatter? by Death in June

     Something got hold of me / It ratttled around my head / Early one morning / On the mourner's bench.

• anxious bench
• mercy seat
• mourner's bench
• mourner's row
• mourner's seat
• mourner's stool
• mourner's pew