I belong to a church in the Wesleyan denomination, and there are bibles in the pews. In fact, the pastor always invites people to take one if they don't have their own at home. When I was a Presbyterian, there were also bibles in the pews.
And yet, all the Methodist churches, and Baptist churches I attended, never had Bibles in the pews...so I am not sure, if this is a regional thing, or an individual church decision or what...I just find the whole thing interesting...and would like to dig a little further...that is why I think it would be a good exercise, when I have the time, to call all the churches in my area, to find out what they do concerning this matter...
I do remember in one Methodist church, they had no Bibles in the pews, but they had a great big beautiful Bible, up in the front of the church, and people were able to access it, either before or after the service, but not during...
I just asked my husband about his attendance at one of the local churches a few months back...he said they had hymnals in the pews, but no Bibles...
It gets more and more curious...