Crystal Cathedral formally became a Roman Catholic Christ Cathedral

Crystal Cathedral of televangelist Robert Shuller formally became Christ Cathedral, a Roman Catholic Cathedral in the Diocese of Orange. Indeed, the seven-story glass tower has undergone quite a transformation, although the changes aren’t visible on the outside. The reflective glass building, designed by postmodern American architect Philip Johnson, seats 2,248 people.The church was touted as "the largest glass building in the world" when it was completed in 1981.The building has one of the largest musical instruments in the world, the Hazel Wright Memorial organ.


The Garden Grove mega-church opened 40 years ago as the Crystal Cathedral, led by worldwide televangelist Robert H. Schuller.


When Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral Ministries filed for bankruptcy in 2010, the fate of the impressive monument off Chapman Avenue became a question mark. After two years of suspense, the Diocese of Orange purchased the 34-acre campus for $57.5 million – then spent another $72.3 million on remodeling.


Comfort-wise, the most welcome change is the addition of air conditioning and heat-deflecting screens. Shading each of the 11,000 window panes, “quatrefoils” give the space an ethereal feel.


However, for a religion steeped in ritual, the most sacred task was remaking a Protestant church into a Catholic place of worship. That meant adding such features as the 20-foot-tall bronze “Bishop’s Doors,” a centerpiece called a baldachin and a 1,000-pound jeweled crucifix. Walnut pews and marble floors contribute to the splendor.


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