Robert Schuller

== Evolution of the Crystal Cathedral ==

In [[Garden Grove, California]] in 1955 Schuller opened what would be his first church in the area, which he called the “Garden Grove Community Church.” At the time, Schuller was trying out a relatively new concept in “church service presentation” known as the “Drive-in Church Model.“<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/05/10/drive-in-church-is-1950s-throwback-may-be-future-religious-practice/ Drive-in church is a 1950s throwback — and may be the future of religious practice] Washington Post. By Rev. Stephen M. Koeth. May 10, 2020.  Accessed 2023-05-23.</ref> His new church was located in the old Orange Drive-in Movie Theater where churchgoers could enjoy their church services from the comfort of their own cars. For the benefit of those who preferred more traditional church services, he later also rented a 300-seat former Baptist church, about four miles (6&nbsp;km) down the road from his new drive-in theater church. On Sunday mornings Schuller would first preside at a 9:30 service in the Baptist chapel and then he would deliver his organ to the roof of the concession stand at the old drive-in theater where he would then preside over his second Sunday service.<ref>Penner, James. ''Goliath: The Life of Robert Schuller'' (1992), p. 119.</ref>  As the size of the congregations grew, Schuller purchased {{convert|10|acre|ha}} of land at 12141 Lewis Street in Garden Grove for a "walk-in, drive-in" church, serving both congregations.

[[Image:6207-GardenGroveCommunityDriveInChurch.jpg|thumb|Garden Grove Community Drive-In Church, completed in 1961]] Ground was broken September 10, 1958 for construction of Schuller's second church-home in the area, which was designed by international architect [[Richard Neutra]].  This second church was completed in 1961, at a cost of $3 million<ref>Penner, p. 155.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Drive in church – Garden Grove Community Church|publisher=ArchInform.net|date=May 21, 2009|url=http://eng.archinform.net/projekte/6331.htm |access-date=October 6, 2009}}</ref> (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|3|1961}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}). The dedication service was held November 5, 1961.<ref>Schuller, Robert H. "My Journey"</ref>  The design of the new church building enabled Schuller to preach his sermons to worshipers in 500 cars, as well as to members of the congregation inside the church.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Churches: Drive-In Devotion|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=November 3, 1967|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,837478,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215134356/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,837478,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 15, 2008|access-date=October 6, 2009}}</ref>  Schuller's second area church was built on what was to later become a part of the campus of his future (and much larger) "Crystal Cathedral Church."<ref name="rutgersuniversitypress.org"/>

Seven years later in 1968 a "Tower of Hope" steeple structure was added onto the north side of the property.  The Tower of Hope structure rose 13 stories (approximately {{convert|130|to|150|feet}}) into the air and was the tallest structure in Orange County at that time.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} The steeple structure was then topped by an illuminated cross which added another {{convert|90|feet}} to the structure's overall height.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}

[[Image:2018 Christ Cathedral campus - Garden Grove, California 01.jpg|thumb|Crystal Cathedral, completed in 1980]] Also in 1968, Schuller purchased a {{convert|10|acre|ha|adj=on}} walnut grove that had bordered on the north boundary of the then current Garden Grove Community Church property.  This new purchase of land was to enable the construction of a future much larger [[Christ Cathedral (Garden Grove, California)|Crystal Cathedral]] on the newly expanded property. The architectural firm of [[Philip Johnson]]/[[John Burgee]] was soon retained to draw up plans for a primarily glass church that would be able to accommodate over 2,000 church goers, which was to be built on a spot on the newly expanded church campus adjacent to the original church structure.

In order to meet the needs of the church's ever expanding congregation, the architectural firm designed a reflective glass building that could seat 2,248 people.<ref name=arch>{{cite news| title=Catholic Renovation of Crystal Cathedral to Begin| last=Rojas| first=Rick| date=November 26, 2013| url=http://articles.latimes.com/2013/nov/26/local/la-me-1127-crystal-cathedral-20131127| newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]| access-date=May 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://christcathedralcalifornia.org/explore/about-christ-cathedral/faqs/ |title=Cathedral Transformation FAQs |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325170346/https://christcathedralcalifornia.org/explore/about-christ-cathedral/faqs/ |archive-date=March 25, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the time that it was built, the church was touted as "the largest glass building in the world."  The church was dedicated on September 14, 1980.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2013/09/from-crystal-to-christ-the-saga-of-a-once-and-future-cathedral|agency=[[First Things]]|title=From Crystal to Christ: A Once and Future Cathedral|date=September 23, 2013|access-date=April 3, 2015|first=Timothy|last=George}}</ref> Once the newer, larger, and more noticeable "Crystal Cathedral" structure was completed, Schuller renamed his organization as the "Crystal Cathedral Ministries."  Schuller's Crystal Cathedral Church soon became the iconic backdrop from which he preached his popular [[Hour of Power]] broadcasts every Sunday morning for the next 25 years.  These broadcasts regularly reached a world wide audience of 20 million.<ref name="audience_size">[https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2015/04/20/robert-schuller-memorial-native-iowan-televangelist/26087809/ Rev. Robert Schuller remembered as dreamer, pastor, dad] DesMoines Register.  By Amy Taxina.  April 20, 2015.  Accessed 2023-05-23.</ref>