The world known Crystal Cathedral in southern California has been the ministry headquarters for the Crystal Cathedral Ministries of Robert H. Schuller since 1981 when the cathedral was built. Schuller became known through his weekly broadcast of The Hour of Power attracting a large and powerful following. The cathedral was designed by Philip Johnson and was constructed with 10,000 panes of glass.





Crystal Cathedral Ministries began having serious financial troubles last year which led to it declaring bankruptcy. Just a few days ago, the bankruptcy court allowed for the property to be acquired by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange for 57.5 million dollars to become its future cathedral.

Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral will become a real cathedral since it will soon house the cathedra (the bishop’s chair) of the bishop of Orange County.





A statement from the Diocese of Orange states critical design upgrades will be required before the church can be used as a Catholic Cathedral. I would sure hope so, considering the interior architecture of the building. Crystal Cathedral Ministries will continue to occupy the building for up to three years. Only at that time will the needed upgrades be done to convert the building into the cathedral.

Time will tell how this California architectural icon will be transformed into a Catholic Church. It seems impossible to achieve, but all the best to those who will try.