Christ Cathedral (Garden Grove, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Cathedral |
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| Crystal Cathedral | |
Cathedral in 2018
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| 33°47′15″N 117°53′56″W / 33.787396°N 117.898933°W | |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Previous denomination | Reformed Church in America (1980–2013) |
| History | |
| Founded | 1955 |
| Founder(s) | Robert H. Schuller (as Crystal Cathedral) |
| Dedicated | 1980 (as Crystal Cathedral) 2019 (as Christ Cathedral) |
| Consecrated | 1980 (as Reformed Church in America) 2019 (as Catholic Church) |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Philip Johnson John Burgee |
| Style | Modern architecture |
| Groundbreaking | 1977 |
| Completed | 1980 |
| Construction cost | $18 million |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Orange |
Christ Cathedral is a famous church building in Garden Grove, California, USA. It was once known as the Crystal Cathedral because of its unique design. This amazing building is made mostly of reflective glass. It was designed by architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee. When it was finished in 1981, it was called "the largest glass building in the world." The church can hold 2,248 people. It also has one of the biggest musical instruments in the world, the Hazel Wright Organ.
From 1981 to 2013, this building was the main church for Crystal Cathedral Ministries. This church group was started in 1955 by Robert H. Schuller. Their weekly TV show, Hour of Power, was filmed here. In 2010, Crystal Cathedral Ministries faced financial problems. In 2012, they sold the building and its surrounding area to the Diocese of Orange. A diocese is a large area managed by a bishop in the Catholic faith. The building was then changed inside to fit Catholic worship.
After the changes were finished, the building was officially opened and renamed "Christ Cathedral" on July 17, 2019. It is now the main church for the Diocese of Orange.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
How it Started and Was Built
The Garden Grove Community Church began in 1955. It was founded by Robert H. Schuller and his wife Arvella. At first, the church held services in a rented drive-in movie theater.
In 1961, the church moved to its current location. They built their first church building, now called the Arboretum. As the church grew, they needed a bigger place to worship. So, in 1968, they built the Tower of Hope. Still, they needed an even larger main church. Robert H. Schuller asked the famous architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee to design it.
Building the Crystal Cathedral started in 1977. It was finished in 1980 and cost $18 million. The building's glass panes are not bolted on. Instead, they are glued with a special silicone glue. This helps the building stand strong during earthquakes, even big ones. More than 10,000 glass panes were used to build it.
When the church moved into the new glass building in 1981, they changed their name. They became the "Crystal Cathedral" because of the building's shiny, crystal-like look. In 1990, they added the tall Prayer Spire.
Changes in Ownership
Around 2010, Crystal Cathedral Ministries started having money problems. They owed money to many people and businesses. The church leaders decided to file for bankruptcy in October 2010. This meant they needed help to manage their debts.
The Diocese of Orange, a Catholic church group, became interested in buying the property. They needed a larger main church for their growing community. The Crystal Cathedral campus was a good fit for several reasons:
- It was in a central spot, easy for many people to reach.
- Changing the Crystal Cathedral for Catholic worship would cost less than building a new church.
- Other buildings on the campus could be used for offices and church activities.
The Diocese of Orange offered $57.5 million for the property. In November 2011, a judge approved the sale. The Vatican, the main authority of the Catholic Church, also approved the plan.
The sale was completed on February 3, 2012. Crystal Cathedral Ministries could rent parts of the campus for up to three years. The Catholic church then moved its local parish, St. Callistus, to the campus. They renamed it Christ Cathedral Parish. The Catholic school also moved there and became Christ Cathedral Academy.
The Bishop of Orange, Tod Brown, said they would change the inside of the building. This would make it suitable for Catholic services. But they planned to keep the outside looking mostly the same.
On June 9, 2012, the diocese announced the building would be called "Christ Cathedral." This new name was chosen by the Holy See (the Vatican). The first Catholic event, a prayer breakfast, was held there in October 2012. However, Catholic Mass (their main worship service) was not held in the main building until after the renovations. During this time, the Christ Cathedral Parish held its Masses in the Arboretum building.
Crystal Cathedral Ministries held its last service in the glass building on June 30, 2013. They then moved to a new location nearby, which they renamed Shepherd's Grove.
Renovation and Official Opening in 2019
On September 24, 2014, the church shared its plans for remodeling. The changes would make the inside of the building better for Catholic worship. This included focusing on the altar, which is central to Catholic services.
The glass walls caused some problems, like too much heat and glare. To fix this, the glass walls were covered with special angled shapes called quatrefoils. These shapes help reduce heat and light. They also make the building's sound better. At night, lights on the quatrefoils make the building look like a "box of stars."
Trees were planted along the path to the church. The large Hazel Wright Organ was taken apart and sent to Italy for a big repair. It was also painted white. This helps people focus on the altar. To show the many cultures in the Catholic community, the altar holds special items. These are called relics and are connected to saints from different backgrounds. The building was also made stronger to resist earthquakes.
The renovations cost a lot of money. A fundraising campaign helped, and an anonymous donor gave $20 million. The total cost was about $72 million.
On May 25, 2017, construction began. On July 17, 2019, the formal dedication Mass was held. Bishop Kevin Vann officially dedicated the building as Christ Cathedral. A celebration concert was held a few days before.
In 2021, a shrine to Our Lady of La Vang was added to the grounds. It features a 12-foot-tall statue of the Virgin Mary.
The Famous Organ
The church's Hazel Wright Organ is one of the largest pipe organs in the world. It has 273 sets of pipes and five keyboards! This huge instrument was built by a company called Fratelli Ruffatti. It includes parts from an older organ from New York's Philharmonic Hall.
Frederick Swann was the organist at the Crystal Cathedral for many years. After the church changed ownership, the organ was taken apart. It was sent back to Italy for a $2 million repair. The renovated organ was put back together in early 2020. Its restoration was fully finished on February 7, 2022. Now, the organ is played regularly during weekend Masses. A special concert was held in September 2022 to celebrate its return.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Cristo (Garden Grove) para niños
