pew |pjuː|noun
a long bench with a back, placed in rows in the main part of somechurches to seat the congregation.
• an enclosure or compartment containing a number of seats, used insome churches to seat a particular worshiper or group of worshipers.
• ( the pews) the congregation of a church : the pews settled down.

ORIGIN late Middle English (originally denoting a raised, enclosed place in a church, provided for particular worshipers): from Old Frenchpuye ‘balcony,’ from Latin podia, plural of podium ‘elevated place.’

Both meanings seem correct although Frosty's understanding is closer to the original meaning of the word.