Crystal Cathedral - Garden Grove, CA

Three structures by noted architects are located at the site of a former drive-in movie theatre turned drive-in church turned megachurch in Orange County, California. Located in Garden Grove (12141 Lewis St.), the Crystal Cathedral is the home base for the international Crystal Cathedral Ministries, including a congregation of over 10,000 members and the internationally televised "Hour of Power."

This is the bell tower of the oldest existing structure on the grounds. It was designed by Richard Neutra. The structure around the bell tower was designed so the preacher could preach simultaneously to an in-church congregation and a drive-in congregation - a walk-in/drive-in church. A glass wall could open to the outdoors, allowing the preacher to be seen in an elevated pulpit by persons in parked cars. In 1968, the 13-story Richard Neutra-designed Tower of Hope opened. With a 90-foot-tall neon-lit cross as its crown, the Tower of Hope was Orange County's tallest building for more than a decade.

The visitors center was designed by Richard Meier (note architectural similarities to the Getty Center). There is a gift shop, lounge, exhibit space, and restaurant in this building.

The Crystal Cathedral (a portion visible on right above) and nearby bell tower (left) have a complimentary style. The Cathedral was designed by architect Philip Johnson. The Crystal Cathedral spans a full 415-feet in length, 207-feet in width and 128-feet in height. The size of the Cathedral is enhanced by the all-glass covering that encloses the entire building. More than 10,000 windows of tempered, silver-colored glass are held in place by a lace-like frame of white steel trusses. These 16,000 trusses were specifically fabricated for this engineering feat. The sanctuary seats 2,736 persons including 1,761 seats on the main floor, 346 seats in the East and West Balconies, and 283 in the South Balcony.

On the tenth anniversary of the Cathedral, September 16, 1990, a 236-foot Bell Tower was dedicated. One of Orange County's tallest structures, the tower is comprised of highly polished, mirrored quality, stainless steel prisms forming a spectacular spire which catches the light from all directions. This Philip Johnson-designed completion of the Crystal Cathedral houses a 52-bell carillon. At the base of the structure is an intimate prayer chapel.

The Cathedral pipe organ is the third largest church pipe organ in the world. There are 287 ranks of pipes and over 16,000 individual pipes, all playable from two five-manual consoles. White oak cases hold the nearly 11,000 pipes in the chancel area. Included there is a rank of forty-four 32-foot pedal pipes. The South Balcony divisions of the organ contain 5,000 pipes, and in the East and West Balconies are 549 horizontal trumpet pipes-the largest collection of such pipes in the world. I can personally attest to the audio power of the organ. It is nearly impossible to talk over the sound of it when inside.