Really? What churches were those?
Though I was not raised 'in church' at all, upon occasion I would end up in a church here or there, and there would always be bibles, and hymnals of course, in the wooden rack commonly built into the backside of the pews. Being in the "bible belt" as it was called back then may have helped. Then again, most folks brought their own. I've seen many old worn ones, and a few recently organized with colored tabs.
It wasn't until I was nearly middle aged that bibles began to get scarcer in the seat backs...pretty much wherever I would go. Still, there would most always be some available. I'll keep my eyes open in the near future, for I may be doing a bit of visiting. Just a little while back I visited a "high church" Anglican congregation. There were a few bibles in the pew seatbacks. They had an "Our Lady of Walsingham-like icon, with a seated Mary (holding a baby Jesus) and having her right foot on a frog. I can't remember the chpt.& verse, but I'm under the impression it is from the book Revelation that the "frog" enters into the picture...Mary being ascended and all, and above serpents now --- just some frog voices to be put down (or so I'm guessing as to addition of the frog) But Jesus is still a baby, so the mix of imagery sort-of jars me a bit.
I've otherwise frequently heard a mention "if anyone doesn't have a bible we can get you one" sort of thing, in more than one church. Part of the reason bibles have become a bit scarcer than they once were (seeming ubiquitous to me, normally in the backs of the old-fashioned pews) could be the changes away from RKJ to ASB and similar, and even NIV for some congregations? I have seen more than once, piles both large and small of old, black bound KJ bibles. But then I've also been in more than a few "low church" setting which had been on the receiving end of others' discards, too.
Think Baptist, Southern Baptist, Methodist, Assembly of God, Pentecostal -- along with many non-denominational churches, you name it. I'd bet the ones calling themselves "Bible Church" would have had bibles available, and still do. There is one not too far away. I may pop in just to look.
Just down the street (at a Methodist Church which has been there a bit longer than I've been alive) one can show up bare handed for a bible study --- there are plenty enough extras.
The older part of the church has been given over to a Hispanic congregation. Language differences... That building used to be open 24/7, unlocked, and anyone could just walk in. Back in those days scarcely anyone would vandalize a church. Not anymore...sadly enough. People miss out on being able to walk into a quiet church and just sit quietly, pray, or what have you.
There were bibles in the backs of the pews. Hard wooden pews. No cushions to get stinky (when that happens --- a guy can hardly give the things away, lol)
I've been wanting to wander in that one old Methodist church and see if I could recognize or determine if the pews are the same there as they were 45 years ago. It is possible...those things were built like tanks.
Just about any denomination you can think of. Maybe it's a regional thing in my area. I'm talking about Bibles in the pews. I'm sure if I asked before services if I could borrow one that someone would find me one. The same would be true if you asked for a Bible in my parish. Someone would get you one.
Just down the street (at a Methodist Church which has been there a bit longer than I've been alive) one can show up bare handed for a bible study --- there are plenty enough extras.
The same would be true in my parish. There are Bibles in classrooms, the chapel, the library, and other places. I was referring to Bibles in the pews, which seemed to be what Ansel was talking about. Other than responsive readings in the hymnal, I honestly cannot recall scriptures being provided in any form (handout, full Bible, etc) in the pews in any protestant churches I've been in. I have no doubt there were many Bibles in other places around those churches. That wasn't the issue though, at least as I understood it. Peace be with you.