Listen closely. The magnificent organ you hear is the Merton S Rice Memorial Organ. It’s housed within the walls of the Metropolitan United Methodist Church. This isn’t just any church. It’s a Detroit landmark a testament to faith and community.
The Metropolitan United Methodist Church boasts a history as rich and complex as its stunning architecture. It wasn’t always this grand building. In fact its story begins with the merger of two congregations the Woodward Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church and the Oakland Avenue Church in 1901. They built a church at Woodward and Melbourne. But tragedy struck. A devastating fire destroyed that structure on Christmas Eve 1916.
However from ashes a phoenix arose. A generous donation from Sebastian S Kresge a member of the congregation provided land at Woodward and Chandler. William E N Hunter another congregant designed this breathtaking edifice. Construction however was delayed by World War I shortages of materials and labor. Finally on June 4 1922 the cornerstone was laid. The church was renamed Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal Church. The first service in the completed sanctuary was held January 17 1926.
The building itself is a masterpiece. Its English Gothic style is striking. The ochre granite from Massachusetts is visually stunning. The interior is equally impressive. The oak furnishings are exquisite intricately carved by Alois P Lange. George Boget’s murals depicting significant events in Protestantism are works of art.
The stunning stained-glass windows were crafted by the renowned Connick Studios. They are grisaille glass beautiful in their simplicity. The church’s size is astonishing. It seats up to 7000 people.
But the story of Metropolitan United Methodist Church is not just about bricks and mortar. It’s about people. It’s about faith. It’s about community. It’s about the extraordinary generosity of the Kresge family. Their contribution extended beyond the land. Stanley and Dorothy Kresge donated a massive sum for the magnificent Moller pipe organ. They even contributed extra funds for structural modifications. This incredible instrument has over 7000 pipes.
The church’s name changed in 1968 when the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged. It became the Metropolitan United Methodist Church.
So stand here. Absorb the history. Feel the weight of the past. The Metropolitan United Methodist Church is more than a place of worship. It’s a living testament to faith perseverance and the enduring power of community. A true Detroit treasure.