Separation of the Sexes in Time of Divine Service

I note with pleasure that traces of this ancient usage still exist in parts of Sussex. In Poling Church, and also in Arundel Church, the movable Seats are marked with the letters M. and W. respectively, according as they are assigned to the men or women. On the first Sunday in the year I attended service in Arundel Church, and observed, with respect to the benches which were placed in the middle of the nave for the use of the poorer classes, that the women as they entered proceeded to those at the eastern end, which were left vacant for them, whilst the men by themselves occupied those at the…