Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA: America’s Largest Glass Church

Located in the heart of Garden Grove, California, Christ Cathedral stands as a stunning example of modern architectural design, blending innovation with spirituality. Originally known as the Crystal Cathedral, this iconic structure was designed by renowned American architect Philip Johnson in 1980. Since its transformation and rededication in 2019, the building has continued to captivate visitors with its sleek, futuristic appearance while serving as a key center for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange.

A Masterpiece of Glass and Steel

Christ Cathedral’s most distinguishing feature is its dramatic use of glass. The entire structure is enveloped in more than 10,000 rectangular panes of glass, giving it a shimmering, almost otherworldly appearance. The glass façade allows natural light to flood the interior, creating a luminous atmosphere that shifts with the time of day and weather conditions. This transparency was not only an aesthetic choice but also a spiritual one. The architect intended for the building to symbolize openness and light, creating a sense of being in communion with the natural world and the heavens above.

Supporting the glass is an intricate framework of white steel, which forms a geometric pattern around the entire structure. These steel beams serve both functional and artistic purposes. They provide the necessary support for the glass while enhancing the cathedral's modernist look, giving it a lightweight, almost weightless quality, as if it floats in the landscape.

The Tower of Hope and Bell Tower

In addition to the main cathedral building, the Christ Cathedral campus is home to the Tower of Hope. Designed by architect Richard Neutra in the 1960s, this 13-story structure was added before the cathedral itself and remains one of the tallest buildings in Orange County. The tower underwent a major renovation as part of the site's transformation into Christ Cathedral, now featuring a new glass exterior that complements the modern aesthetic of the main sanctuary.

The Bell Tower, another distinctive feature of the campus, stands at 236 feet tall. Its open-frame design allows the 52-bell carillon to project its chimes across the surrounding area, connecting the cathedral with the larger community through sound.

Renovations and Adaptations

When the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange acquired the Crystal Cathedral in 2012, significant renovations were undertaken to adapt the space for Catholic worship while preserving its architectural integrity. The redesign included the addition of new liturgical elements, such as the altar, crucifix, and baptismal font, all crafted to blend seamlessly with the modernist design.

One notable change was the addition of large, motorized shades that can cover the glass ceiling to create a more contemplative atmosphere during services. This adaptive feature allows for greater control of lighting, providing the option for a more traditional, subdued church setting when needed.

Today’s Christ Cathedral

Today, Christ Cathedral remains an active house of worship and a place of pilgrimage for Catholics and architecture enthusiasts alike. Its striking design and the harmonious integration of modern materials with spiritual purpose make it a unique landmark not just in Garden Grove but in the entire world of ecclesiastical architecture.

While many traditional cathedrals aim to reach upward with towering spires and dense stone walls, Christ Cathedral invites visitors into an open, transparent space that feels closer to nature and the heavens. This blending of the spiritual and the architectural makes Christ Cathedral an enduring symbol of both faith and modernity.

Key Info

Address: 13280 Chapman Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92840

Parking: Free lot parking

Meet Very Rev. Bao Thai, Rector, Christ Cathedral

What are the key architectural features that make Christ Cathedral unique?

*Credit: Drew Kelley, Diocese of Orange*

Christ Cathedral is more than just a single building, but an entire 34-acre campus of art and architecture. Four world-renowned architects have made their mark here: Richard Neutra (the Arboretum and Tower of Hope), Philip Johnson (Christ Cathedral and the Crean Tower), Richard Meier (the Cultural Center) and Gin D. Wong (the Pastoral Center and Christ Cathedral Academy). Each structure harbors a particular quality of American architecture to it, from the Mid-Century Modern of Neutra to the post-modern of Johnson. There are few places like it in the world, and we are incredibly blessed and fortunate to have this space as our spiritual home in the Diocese of Orange.

Beyond the buildings, however, is an impressive collection of art and music: to name a few, the 17,000-pipe Hazel Wright Organ (fifth largest pipe organ in the world); an Italian mosaic of Guadalupe in the cathedral; Romano-Byzantine-inspired paintings and mosaics in the new St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts; and many bronze bas reliefs by Bolivian-born sculptor Pablo Eduardo.

Before the Diocese acquired the campus in 2012, it was already well known as the megachurch Crystal Cathedral, home of the “Hour of Power” broadcast of Dr. Robert Schuller. Since 2012, the Diocese of Orange has extensively renovated and updated most aspects of the campus to fit our Catholic traditions. The Los Angeles firm Johnson Fain worked on the Christ Cathedral renovation and the new St. Callistus chapel, with exterior work on the plazas by RIOS. Notably, we have expanded the ecumenical cemetery and built two new additions: the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine and Marian Gardens. For the shrine and the gardens, the classic and the timeless meet the abstract and the contemporary. Architects for those projects include Aaron Torrence and David Pfeifer of domusstudios architecture in San Diego.

Do people visit from around the world to admire the architecture?

We regularly host tours of the campus that focus on both the cathedral itself and the campus at large. We estimate that more than 1 million people visit the campus annually for Masses, funerals, weddings, receptions and other gatherings. On a typical weekend, as many as 15,000 people come for Masses alone. It is one of the busiest parishes in the United States, and a fitting “downtown” for the Diocese of Orange.

What do you hope visitors take away from their experience with the architecture of Christ Cathedral?

We hope that all who visit the Christ Cathedral campus feel a sense of joy, renewal and beauty, whether they are Catholic or any other faith. This place, and the architecture that ties it all together, are undoubtedly inspiring. More than a decade ago, when this campus was put up for sale, there were questions if it would remain a church or become a secular university campus. Thanks to Dr. Robert and Arvella Schuller, who entrusted it to the Catholic Church, it will always remain a church. As we like to say, it will always remain a Place for Christ Forever.