Crystal Cathedral

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Crystal Cathedral

The Crystal Cathedral campus is a Christian megachurch in the city of Garden Grove, within Orange County in Southern California. The center was founded in 1979 by Rev. Robert H. Schuller and his wife, Arvella on the campus of what was known until that time as Garden Grove Community Church. One of the church's mission statements is, "Find a need and fill it, find a hurt and heal it." The church is known for its world-famous architecture by Philip Johnson, most prominently the main sanctuary building which was constructed using over 10,000 rectangular panes of glass. It is also well known for the huge, 280 rank, five manual pipe organ constructed by Fratelli Ruffatti. The instrument incorporates the large Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ built in 1962 for New York's Avery Fisher Hall.

Dr. Robert H. Schuller transferred leadership of the Crystal Cathedral and the Hour of Power TV program to his son, Dr. Robert Anthony Schuller on Sunday, 22 January 2006.

The Crystal Cathedral broadcasts its church services around the world on a television show called The Hour of Power and the campus provides facilities for those of a similar faith to congregate. The campus services include support groups, Sunday school classes and daily Christian gatherings.

Early on December 16, 2004, 57 year old Johnnie Carl, the cathedral's orchestral conductor, fired several rounds in the cathedral, shortly before the annual Glory of Christmas program was about to begin. The shots were fired in the vacant concourse area and no one was injured. Carl reportedly suffered from clinical depression. Soon after, Carl committed suicide. In his 29 years as Minister of Music at the cathedral, Carl wrote more than 3,500 arrangements. Schuller praised Carl's work as conductor and told his congregation that "We can be reassured that he is in heaven." Today, Marc Riley, Sean Groombridge, and Donald Neuen lead the music department at the Crystal Cathedral.

The name "Crystal Cathedral" is technically a misnomer: Schuller's religious denomination is the Reformed Church in America, meaning that it is governed by elders and does not have bishops, while a cathedral is typically the church where one finds a bishop's official seat, or cathedra.

[edit] References

E.M.Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List, Compiled by Allen Kinzey and Sand Lawn, published: Organ Historical Society, Richmond, VA. 1st Edition, 1992, page 124.