Landmark Crystal Cathedral Gets a New Name — Christ Cathedral… and Slips Into History

Philip James Corwin / Corbis file – The glass-and-steel Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif., was the home of a televangelism ministry led by the Rev. Robert Schuller. The Associated Press contributed to this article.

By Melissa Pamer, NBCLosAngeles.com

Christ Cathedral is the new name for the former Crystal Cathedral, the Orange County landmark that is under new ownership, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange County announced Saturday.

The new name was suggested by parishioners, and chosen from among 4,100 suggestions by Bishop of Orange Tod D. Brown. He passed the proposed name to the Vatican, which approved it, spokesman Stephen Bohannon said Saturday.

The announcement was made at St. Columban Catholic Church in Garden Grove after an ordination ceremony Saturday.

Father Christopher Smith, who will be serving in as the Bishop’s representative at Christ Cathedral, said the county diocese had originally planned to build a new cathedral "from the ground up."

"Through an amazing set of circumstances, we were able to acquire the campus," Smith said. "It’s going to serve as the center of the work for the Diocese of Orange."

Smith starts July 2, he said, but there’s no reopening date set for the cathedral.

The iconic megachurch’s sale for $57.7 million to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange was approved by a bankruptcy judge in November 2011.

Televangelist Rev. Robert H. Schuller and his wife resigned from the board of the Crystal Cathedral in March. The evangelical church had suspended its signature "Hour of Power" broadcast after filing for bankruptcy in 2010.

The current Crystal Cathedral congregation will relocate to another Catholic church next year. It’s not yet known when the first Catholic worship will occur at the cathedral.

Christ Cathedral is a great name choice, but as a former parishioner, this marks the end, the final cut from the Crystal Cathedral being in the now to being a part of history. Ask Marion

The End of an Era: Who Bought the Crystal Cathedral… And What of It’s Parishioners?

Crystal Cathedral Is Cautionary Tale for Pastors

Crystal Cathedral Prays for Miracle

Famed Pianist Roger Williams Dead at 87

Schuller Ousted From Crystal Cathedral Board

Robert H. Schuller Latest Drama of Crystal Cathedral Mess

Crystal Cathedral Put Up for Sale to End Debt Woes

Rifts, debt tear at Crystal Cathedral

TEARFUL SCHULLER PLEADS FOR DOLLARS FOR CRYSTAL CATHEDRAL

Rev. Schuller Retires as Lead Pastor, Takes New Crystal Cathedral Post

Pianist Roger Williams: Schuller Kids Spoiled Crystal Cathedral

Video: Crystal Cathedral Is Sold in Bankruptcy Proceeding

Video: Robert H. Schuller’s 85th Birthday

Technorati Tags: Crystal Cathedral,churches,church,megachurches,Catholic Diocese of Orange,Catholic Church,change,California,religion and faith,changing winds,remembering,spirituality,Christ Cathedral,Robert Schuller,landmarks,Robert H. Schuller

About Ask Marion

I am a babyboomer and empty nester who savors every moment of my past and believes that it is the responsibility of each of us in my generation and Americans in general to make sure that America is as good or even a better place for future generations as it was for us. So far... we haven't done very well!! Favorite Quotes: "The first 50 years are to build and acquire; the second 50 are to leave your legacy"; "Do something that scares you every day!"; "The journey in between what you once were and who you are becoming is where the dance of life really takes place". At age 62 I find myself fighting inoperable uterine Cancer and thanks to the man upstairs and the prayers from so many people including many of my readers from AskMarion and JustOneMorePet... I'm beating it. After losing our business because of the economy and factors related to the re-election of President Obama in 2012 followed by 16-mos of job hunting, my architect-trained husband is working as a trucker and has only been home approximately 5-days a month since I was diagnosed, which has made everything more difficult and often lonely... plus funds are tight. Our family medical deductible is 12K per year for two of us; thank you ObamaCare. But thanks to donations from so many of you, we are making ends meet as I go through treatment while taking care of my father-in-law who is suffering from late stage Alzheimer's and my mother-in-law who suffers from RA and onset dementia as well as hearing loss, for which there are no caretaker funds, as I continue the fight here online to inform and help restore our amazing country. And finally I need to thank a core group of family, friends, and readers... all at a distance, who check in with me regularly. Plus, I must thank my furkids who have not left my side through this fight. You can see them at JustOneMorePet.

View all posts by Ask Marion →