mourners' bench

American  

noun

1. (at religious revival meetings) a bench or seat at the front of the church or room, set apart for mourners or penitent sinners seeking salvation.

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Etymology

Origin of mourners' bench

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

Example Sentences

From his mourners' bench at South Bend, Ind., Coach Frank Leahy cried, "We'll be outweighed for the first time in two years."

From Time Magazine Archive

There was no public testimony of the saved, no mourners' bench nor sawdust trail, no Bible-banging nor marimba band.

From Time Magazine Archive

If they kept the stock, as many doubtless did rather than incur Samuel Insull's displeasure, they now are of course on the long, long Insull mourners' bench.

From Time Magazine Archive

We hope that no hassocs will be shied in our direction as we make our way down the aile to the mourners' bench.

From Time Magazine Archive

Us Culvers were down front, one pew back from the mourners’ bench where Miss Myrt’s brother from French Lick sat.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck