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Reading Pipe – What Defines a Churchwarden?

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**A Special Way to Enjoy Smoking: The Reading Pipe, or "Churchwarden"** The reading pipe, known in English as the "Churchwarden," offers a unique style of pipe smoking. What makes this shape so special, and what is its history? Below, we’ll provide some insight into these questions and other interesting facts about this long, slender pipe.

Features of the Churchwarden

What sets the Churchwarden apart is its long, usually curved, mouthpiece or pipe stem. These pipes have mouthpieces ranging from 20 to 45 centimeters in length and are the only ones not classified by their bowl shape.

Today, reading pipes come in most forms typical of a bent pipe. The bowl of this pipe is significantly smaller than that of other pipes. The preferred style is the Dublin bowl, but it is also available in Apple or Billiard styles.

Example of a Churchwarden with a Dublin bowl: Peterson Churchwarden Braun - DUBLIN (14011)
Example of a Churchwarden with an Apple bowl: Chacom T.V. Pipes Burgundy 871 (13278)

Churchwardens are crafted from both briarwood and meerschaum. Due to the long mouthpiece, they’re typically only used for seated smoking. In the past, they were popular for reading, as the long, slim pipe didn’t obstruct the view of the book—hence the German name: “Lesepfeife” or “reading pipe.”

Unique Smoking Experience

The long mouthpiece provides a different smoking experience compared to pipes with shorter stems, often referred to as “dry smoking.” The long stem condenses moisture, so the smoke cools and dries as it reaches the end, softening the sharp taste of the tobacco. However, moisture often collects in the bowl as it flows back from the mouthpiece.

It takes practice to fully enjoy a reading pipe. The long mouthpiece affects the pipe’s draw, so finding the right balance requires skill and experience. Drawing too softly or too slowly causes the pipe to go out; drawing too forcefully or quickly can overheat the bowl, causing moisture to gather in the lowest part of the pipe. This may result in the bowl burning out, and excessive moisture in the chamber can make the tobacco unfit for smoking.

Tobaccos and Accessories

Special tobaccos aren’t necessary for reading pipes. Tobacco choice depends on the smoker's preferences and, to some extent, the bowl’s capacity. Naturally, longer pipe cleaners are required for reading pipes. Most purchases include a few, but they’re also available separately at a low cost.

History and Origins of the Reading Pipe

The English name for the reading pipe, "Churchwarden," roughly translates to “verger” or “sexton” in German. A charming story suggests that the Churchwarden gave its name because older churchwardens with ample bellies preferred this comfortable style—allowing the bowl to extend past their stomachs.

Before the 19th century, when briarwood became popular for making durable wooden pipes, pipes were crafted from clay or porcelain. Since both materials have low heat resistance, a long, curved stem was necessary to cool the hot smoke before it reached the mouth.

The crafting of clay pipes emerged in the 17th century, inspired by designs from England and America. English mercenaries arrived in Gouda in 1606 to defend the town, learning the art of pipe-making. Due to King James I’s intolerance, many pipe-makers emigrated to Holland. Gouda became the center for these artisans and gained renown not only for its cheese but also as a beer town and for its clay pipes. In 1660, the Gouda Pipe-Makers’ Guild was established, and the Gouda clay pipe enjoyed great popularity in the 18th century. It is likely that the Churchwarden is a direct descendant of the equally long, delicate Gouda pipe.

In recent years, the reading pipe has regained popularity due to the *Hobbit* trilogy, and pipe-maker Vauen has even introduced a series named “Auenland” specifically for this purpose.