parson’s bench

A parson's bench is a type of settle, which is a long wooden bench with a backrest and arms designed to seat several people. Settles originated in Europe around the 10th century and were derived from chests. They could serve multiple purposes, including seating, sleeping, and even as a table if the backrest could be folded down. By the 15th century, settles were common in inns and taverns. In the early 20th century, a spindled variety resembling an extended Windsor chair became popular in the United States and was sometimes referred to as a schoolmaster's or parson's bench.1