Samuel Metzger, who plays St. Petersburg First United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida on March 14, 2025. Credit: Photo via smetzger72/Twitter

St. Petersburg First United Methodist Church has had a presence in downtown St. Petersburg for a century, and the congregation hopes that its new organ can provide the music for services for another 100 years.

Unveiled last September, SPFUMC’s new toy from Allen Organ Company was inspired by a visit to Forrest Burdette United Methodist Church in Hurricane, West Virginia where a 456-drawknob organ rocked the 800-seat sanctuary.

Samuel Metzger—who’s served as Director of Music and Organist at Nashville’s Covenant Presbyterian Church (and sadly someone who posts anti-trans, pro-Trump BS on social media)—helps the SPFUMC break in its four-manual organ with 100 ranks of strings at this no-cover recital.

There’s no cover for the free organ concert happening Friday, March 14 at St. Petersburg First United Methodist Church.
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This article appears in Mar 13-19, 2025.