Hard to say. Most of the church pews I've seen were solid wood-if more recently manufactured, they're usually made from laminated 3/4" thick material - commonly red oak. Older pews are sometimes white oak. I your case, the upholstered backs and seats could be anything but I'd guess plywood. But that's all conjecture on my part. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

It may be worth an hour's drive to do some "exploratory surgery" on one of them and see what you may be getting into.

 

Judging by the upholstery, my guess is plywood, or low grade lumber. The ends and legs might be good.

 

I would pass on it, ... imagine the problem you will have bringing all that stuff home.

You may need to pray for forgiveness

or have to build a casket out of it as a result.

Just spend an extra hour of quality time with your kids!

 

I on a couple of occasions cut down a few church pews for multiple churches. None of them were covered and all were hardwood. I suspect those on the other hand are not hard wood, rather because of the covering (which I assume was on them when installed) is hiding some form of plywood or something similar.
Because more ends are mortised in for the seat and back, you aren't going to get much usable wood from them.

Personally I'd pass on them.

 

I have seen the covered pews before, and the ones I saw were solid Oak. I'd think it was all about what was paid for them initially. Some Church build drives amass a huge amount of coin. Maybe try to ask if anyone was around when this church went up. I will say that the Church I saw the pews available in, it has massive Oak beams, and this Church has what look like basement posts, so possibly a low budget affair.

Call and ask, no cost, and very little time in doing that.

 

With that style of pew the upholstery is typically built into the design and not added on so seats and backs are rarely hardwood.

The end caps and the legs might still be solid oak.

 

The church we attend has solid wood pews. I think they are red oak, and they were upholstered long after their initial installation, like 30 years or so. They could be solid wood. Like was mentioned earlier, the legs and ends are probably solid wood.

 

Interesting they are being trashed. There's a market for church pews - they could be sold. I'd certainly make the trip to check it out… Let us know that you do!

 

Pass.

But I do remember a couple pews I got hold of a 150+ yr old church.

1 3/4" thick X 14" wide X 20' slabs of solid hickory.

The were painted but when I planed them down there was not a knot to be seen.