A New Beginning in Orange County

“This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Catholic communities of Orange County. Several buyers were competing for the Crystal Cathedral. It was a beautiful campus with iconic architecture. But, as Reverend Schuller said: ‘a church should remain a church’”  — Rob Neal

Christ Cathedral x. RBN Foundation

Christ Cathedral x. RBN Foundation

THE BEGINNINGS

The Crystal Cathedral, located in Garden Grove, Orange County, California, was a landmark of modernist architecture and a symbol of the televangelist movement. The church was designed by architect Philip Johnson and completed in 1980. The structure, made entirely of glass, steel, and white painted steel trusses, was originally built for the Reverend Robert Schuller’s ministry, the Garden Grove Community Church, and was named for its signature feature, the 10,000 windows of tempered glass that covered its exterior walls. The church’s unique design and size allowed it to hold up to 2,900 people and became a popular tourist attraction in Southern California.

Over its lifetime, the Crystal Cathedral became famous for its Hour of Power weekly television program, which was broadcasted worldwide and hosted by Schuller. The program brought Schuller’s message of hope and positivity to millions of viewers and was a significant factor in the growth of the televangelist movement in the United States. The church also hosted many significant events, including the funeral of Richard Nixon in 1994.

THE OPPORTUNITY

After nearly 60 years, the Crystal Cathedral ministries filed for bankruptcy in 2010 due to financial difficulties. The expansive campus and prime Southern California location made the sale very attractive to both private investors and nearby Chapman University.

But Christian leaders throughout the region hoped to keep the cathedral as a home for their community. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange invited a core group of donors and shared the vision for the future of the cathedral. With their pledge of financial support (and fervent prayers of many), the diocese entered a bid for the cathedral and a commitment to renovating the campus.

“It was a privilege to be invited to contribute to this cause. It’s rare that something this significant happens in your lifetime. So supporting this cause was a privilege, even if it was a personal sacrifice. We knew we had to be all in.” – Berni Neal

▲ 2013:  Rob Neal explains the renovation of the cathedral to become a home for a Catholic community and the liturgy.

NEW BEGINNINGS

In 2012, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange successfully purchased the cathedral for $57.5 million. The cathedral was then renamed Christ Cathedral and the campus began a multi-year renovation, with the cathedral itself as the centerpiece.

Rob acted as a “volunteer” Chief Operating Officer from 2012 to 2015 overseeing all elements of both operations and renovation of the Campus. He explained the scope of the renovation: “The Cathedral Campus comprised seven major and architecturally important buildings designed by Richard Neutra, Richard Meier and Philip Johnson, respectively, all towering American architects. All of the buildings, except the Cathedral, were extensively renovated and put into operation by 2013. The Cathedral took the longest given the scope and cost of the renovation.”

christ-cathedral-with-hotspots Quatrefoil Altar Pipe Organ Crucifix Pews

▲ The renovated Cathedral interior is beautiful and inspiring.(Photo credit: Leonard Ortiz for Orange County Register/SCNG)

Quatrefoil are best understood as perforated metal sails that hang from the ceiling structure. By carefully position of each, the cathedral is able to temper sunlight and control interior temperature.

Both the altar and ambo were fabricated in Italy from local carara stone.

The pipe organ is prominent in Christ Cathedral. But unseen are several rooms in the under crop that are blower rooms that bring in air and then distribute the air. There are also different chambers that compress and even speed up the air. It’s not just the pipes. For the renovation, improving acoustics within a glass structure was important.

The crucifix is hung from a square structure called a “baldachin.” The cross itself weighs more than 1000 pounds. Inlaid gems within the crown of Jesus catch sunlight.

Traditional Catholic pews replaced the original “theater style” seats chosen by Crystal Cathedral pastor Robert Schuller. Both iterations of church seating were constructed by The Marshall Company.

THE TRANSFORMATION

After years of planning, much of which was overseen by Rob and Berni, construction for the cathedral renovation began in June of 2017. The renovation, which cost over $77 million, included modifications to the interior to accommodate Catholic sacraments, such as the installation of a central altar, a baptismal font, a bishop’s cathedra (episcopal chair), and other liturgical elements. The building’s interior was also reconfigured to create spaces for chapels, confessionals, and other Catholic worship needs. The exterior structure remained largely unchanged, maintaining its iconic glass facade.

Practical upgrades were made to the cathedral’s interior. Quatrefoils in the shape of triangles are used throughout the vast glass ceiling to filter light and ultimately create a more pleasant environment for worship. Sound dampening panels were used throughout the space to create a sense of peace for parishioners.

The transformation from Crystal Cathedral to Christ Cathedral has required years of patience and significant investment of resources. But the end result is a worship space that will inspire for generations to come. Bishop Kevin Vann explains it best: “Beauty draws people to God in ways that intellectually don’t happen  much, or at least don’t happen quite the same way. When you look up and see the light coming in, especially in the afternoon, that draws you upward to God.”

The Christ Cathedral opened to the public in 2019, and it now serves as the principal worship center for the Catholic Diocese of Orange.

In the News

A VIDEO CHRONOLOGY OF THE RENOVATION OF CHRIST CATHEDRAL (2019)

Orange Diocese on YouTube | From the scaffolding to the selection of the stone and tile to the installation of the crux gemmata, work has been ongoing since the spring of 2017. The renovation is nearly complete and the dedication of Christ Cathedral is set for July 17, 2019. Watch Video

Christ Cathedral Time Lapse (2019)

Orange Diocese on YouTube | The spiritual and temporal efforts to make the Christ Cathedral campus the true center of the Diocese of Orange are aimed at building a deeper unity of purpose and mission among Catholics within our local Church and a renewed commitment to permeating the world with the love of Christ. Watch Video

CRYSTAL CATHEDRAL IN CALIFORNIA GETS A NEW LIFE AS A CATHOLIC CHURCH (2019)

New York Times | The towering glass megachurch, long the home of a flamboyant televangelist, has been renamed Christ Cathedral. Read More

Future Christ Cathedral to host Magnificat Day of Faith (2012)

Angelus News | After hosting events in New York City (in 2002) and in Boston (in 2008), the Magnificat Foundation is taking a giant step across the country — to Garden Grove. Read More

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