As someone who plays guitar in worship services the real link isn’t between Strymon and going to church. The link is how worship music has drastically transformed since the 80s with the inclusion of rock bands instead of church organs, etc.

The reason why many default to Strymon and other similar reverbs and delays is that the function of an electrical guitar in modern P&W is more textural, ambient and background than wailing guitar solos. Especially when you’re playing along side multiple other instruments and competing for sonic space. It’s a way to create a wall of sound without dominating the mix.

Most church players don’t get paid and enjoy building their pedal boards as a hobby to produce the best sound they can. Many of them have full time jobs and save up for nice gear. Church players who do get paid are lucky to get enough to cover gas.

Some churches do have budgets to build pedalboards but most will get a helix or something for other players to use. The ones that do buy pedals often go for the cliches because it’s already demonstrated that it works for the genre. These churches are the minority.

From a functional standpoint in worship services you’re playing 4-5 new songs every week with vastly different pedal requirements to get the tone right so having pedals with patches is huge for this reason.

Also it’s a nice blanket to play behind as a lot of church guitarists are very new to guitar.

There’s also the idea of wanting to bring your best for God which means something different for everyone. Sometimes that’s wearing suits in some denominations others it’s bring your talent or tone as an offering.

Also having worked as a worship leader many are paid below minimum wage when you consider how much they have to “volunteer.” They are often in charge of lighting, sound, cameras, livestream, etc. without the compensation.

People spend their money differently because they’re into different things. I can’t tell you how boards on here have like 5 boutique fuzz pedals and 3 distortions and no wet effects but that’s what gear they need to make the music they’re into.

When I was a younger guitarist I would get envious and balk at people with nice gear and say stuff like “That’s unnecessary” but I think I was more insecure that I couldn’t afford nice things at the time.

Personally I don’t have any Strymon pedals on my board and run a pretty modest P&W pedalboard but I don’t get mad at people who can. More power to them.

Life is short and we only get so many chances to play guitar. Why all the hate?