Years ago a friend informed me that the purpose of the extra long stem/shank on the churchwarden was to enable the Warden/Deacon to light your pipe for you while in church. Having seen the layout of some of the historical churches I can believe this.Now my wife has brought up the question of what religious groups did this.ie the puritans,pilgrims,angelicans what have you ? Did the practice start with one group or community?