Jacksonville Church Marks Four Decades of Organ Music

First Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville will host a free concert at 4 p.m. Sunday in the church sanctuary to mark the 40th anniversary of the installation of its pipe organ. The event commemorates four decades of music ministry supported by the instrument and offers the community an opportunity to hear the organ that has accompanied worship services and public programs since 1984.

The organ was acquired and rebuilt from MacMurray College's Orr Auditorium after that building was slated for demolition. Following a significant overhaul prior to installation, the instrument became a central part of First Presbyterian's musical life. The anniversary program is intended to highlight both the organ's musical role and the broader story of how local institutions preserve and repurpose cultural property when other facilities close or are removed from the landscape.

For local residents the concert is more than a musical presentation. It represents an example of community stewardship and the continuity of public culture in Morgan County. Religious congregations often serve as de facto custodians of visual arts and musical instruments, providing venues and maintenance for items that might otherwise be lost when colleges or civic institutions change hands or buildings are demolished. This transfer of the Orr Auditorium organ to First Presbyterian illustrates those dynamics and raises questions about how communities plan for preservation of cultural assets.

There are policy implications for municipal leaders and civic boards. Decisions about demolition permits, institutional closures, and the disposition of significant fixtures can have lasting effects on community heritage and civic life. Local voting patterns and civic participation shape priorities for arts funding, historic preservation, and support for nonprofit organizations that host cultural programming. Residents who value the arts and historic materials can influence those priorities through public meetings, advisory boards, and the ballot box.

The anniversary concert also functions as a civic event, drawing audiences into a shared space and encouraging engagement across age groups. Free admission removes an economic barrier and signals an inclusive approach to cultural programming. Sustaining an instrument like a pipe organ requires ongoing maintenance and investment, and public awareness events such as this anniversary can help galvanize volunteer support and philanthropic interest for future upkeep.

As Jacksonville residents gather in the sanctuary Sunday, the concert will mark both a musical milestone and a community moment. It reminds local leaders and voters that decisions about buildings and institutional change have cultural consequences, and that proactive planning can preserve musical and historic resources for the benefit of future generations.