Case Study: Calvary Baptist Church of Bellflower

It was time for the Calvary Baptist Church of Bellflower (located in southeastern Los Angeles) to remodel their sanctuary, and finding new seating was a key part of the process. “We had been using the old, spring cushion theater seating that was original to the building, so it was from 1968. A lot of them were broken down, and they were all in an old, out-of-date color,” said Pastor Ken Goodban, the Lead Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church.

Problem 1: Sloped Flooring

Replacing the aging chairs wasn’t a simple task. The old theater seats were bolted into a floor that sloped toward the stage, and many in the congregation were concerned that new, freestanding church chairs (which were not fixed to the floor) might feel unstable or even tip over. This had complicated the process of getting new chairs. To solve this problem, Calvary Baptist Church went to Bertolini.

Pictured here, Calgary Life Baptist Church’s old chairs were permanently installed into the floor, which meant they couldn’t be repositioned for various church events.

Pastor Ken Goodban’s Bertolini sales representative proposed several solutions, including customizing the chair legs to be shorter in front. However, since Bertolini Church Chairs come with high-quality rotating floor protectors, he recommended trying the chairs out first.

“Our Bertolini sales representative was great,” said Pastor Ken. “He brought some sample chairs into our church and set them up. Not only were the chairs completely stable on the sloped floor, but they were also extremely comfortable.” That saved Calvary Baptist Church a lot of work. Bertolini Church Chairs are lightweight, movable, and can be linked together in rows.

Problem 2: More Space, Please

Another concern the church wanted to address was how to give each member of the congregation more space. Their old, theater-style chairs felt cramped and uncomfortable. They were considering ordering Bertolini’s widest chair model, but once again, their sales representative had an idea that would save some money.

Their sales representative pointed out that Bertolini Chairs are already wider than standard chairs on the market. He recommended ordering most of the 印象椅 without armrests, in the standard width. This way, it would provide people with more space without increasing costs or reducing seating capacity.

印象教堂椅子：适合每个人的完美座位

Impressions 教堂椅子时尚而现代，为所有人提供舒适的座位。

探索印象椅

Adding Some Extras

The architect collaborated with Bertolini to make the sanctuary remodel truly stand out. A color palette was built out and shared with all contributors. The same fabric used on the chair upholstery was also used on the wall acoustic panels, giving the room an attractive aesthetic.

The Church also has a basketball court that can be used for overflow seating on high-attendance days. They needed folding chairs that were more comfortable than the plastic stacking chairs they had previously used. Calvary Baptist Church found just what they needed with the FlexOne CS Folding Chair. They ordered stacks of these folding chairs to keep handy.

Roomier Seats at Last

“It’s been great — the new seating feels roomier. People like the chairs. We do have a few chairs with armrests,” Pastor Ken said with a smile, “for people like me, who like something to lean on. But most people prefer the ones without armrests.” The setup feels open and welcoming, while still accommodating the diverse needs of the congregation.

Greater Comfort for All

When combined with the interior remodel, getting new Bertolini Chairs garnered some positive attention. “People love the Bertolini chairs — they love how comfortable they are,” said Pastor Ken Goodban. The chair chosen by the church — the Impressions Chair — is built with Bertolini’s custom, cold-cured foam cushion, which is guaranteed for 25 years. This cushion offers the most comfortable seating experience available for places of worship.

“I would definitely say that moving from our old theater seating to the Bertolini seating has been a good move.”

PASTOR KEN GOODBAN

Calvary Baptist Church, Bellflower, California

The FlexOne CS Folding Chairs have also been a hit. These chairs feature a wider seat and a flexible, ventilated plastic seat and back with geometric-shaped cutouts. The plastic molds to the contours of each person. “It’s a surprisingly comfortable folding chair,” said Pastor Ken Goodban. “They’re so lightweight and easy to store. People say, ‘these are comfy!’”

More Flexibility

Calvary Life Church appreciates the flexibility of Bertolini Church Chairs. “We usually set the chairs up in straight rows,” Pastor Ken commented, “but sometimes we do a horseshoe shape, and people really love that.”

The past sanctuary had the same seating layout for over 50 years, so they are enjoying doing a bit of experimenting. “Bertolini Chairs really make the space versatile. If we want a center aisle, we have one; if not, we don’t.”

The versatility is important to the church due to the growing need for gathering spaces in southeastern Los Angeles County. “In addition to Sunday services, the church is also used for seminars, leadership training events, movie nights, weddings, and occasionally for events hosted by other churches,” explained Pastor Ken. “If we had still had the old straight rows bolted to the floor, we couldn’t do all that.”

A Successful Remodel

What started as a challenging remodeling project turned into an impressive success — a welcoming, event-worthy sanctuary that people love to visit. Thanks to the hard work of everyone involved in the project, Calvary Baptist Church enjoys a refreshed worship space that better supports their congregation’s needs — both physically and aesthetically.

“I would definitely say that moving from our old theater seating to the Bertolini seating has been a good move,” said Pastor Ken Goodban. “The chairs are comfortable, they look great, and they work perfectly on our sloped floor. People really like them.”