Robert Schuller was an American televangelist, pastor, and author who founded Crystal Cathedral Ministries and hosted the long-running “Hour of Power” television program. He was born in 1926 in Iowa and earned a Master of Divinity degree from Western Theological Seminary in 1950. After completing his studies, he was ordained as a minister in the Reformed Church in America.
In 1955, Schuller relocated to Garden Grove, California, to establish a new mission church. Facing limited access to traditional worship spaces, he adopted a drive-in church model and held services at the Orange Drive-In Movie Theatre. He preached from the roof of a concession stand while congregants listened from their cars.
This approach aimed to reduce barriers to attendance and appealed to the growing suburban population of Orange County. Although Schuller remained affiliated with the RCA, he named the congregation the Garden Grove Community Church to reduce denominational emphasis and broaden its appeal.
As attendance increased, Schuller acquired a 10-acre property to construct a combined walk-in and drive-in worship facility. He commissioned architect Richard Neutra to design the sanctuary, which was completed in 1961. The building featured large glass panels that allowed those inside and those parked outside to participate in services. In 1968, the campus expanded with the construction of the Tower of Hope. At the time of its completion, the tower was the tallest structure in Orange County.
In 1970, encouraged by evangelist Billy Graham, Schuller launched the “Hour of Power” television program. The broadcast grew into one of the most widely viewed religious programs globally, reaching an estimated audience of 20 million at its peak.
To support the expanding congregation and broadcast ministry, Schuller commissioned architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee to design a new sanctuary. The Crystal Cathedral was completed in 1980 at a cost of $18 million and seated more than 2,200 people. The glass structure became known for its architectural design. Funding for the project included methods such as selling individual window panes to donors. Following the building’s dedication, the organization was renamed Crystal Cathedral Ministries. For several decades, the ministry operated as both a local church and a global media enterprise.
In 2006, Schuller retired from active leadership and appointed his son, Robert A. Schuller, as senior pastor. In 2008, Robert A. Schuller resigned, citing a lack of shared vision for the ministry’s future. Leadership then passed to Schuller’s daughter, Sheila Schuller Coleman, in 2009.
During the Great Recession, Crystal Cathedral Ministries experienced declining donations while carrying significant debt from prior construction projects. In 2012, the Crystal Cathedral campus was sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange and later renamed Christ Cathedral.
Robert Schuller died on April 2, 2015, at the age of 88. His funeral was held at the former Crystal Cathedral, and he was buried at the Christ Cathedral Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Key Sources:
Bharath, D. (2011, May 27). Crystal Cathedral to be sold to pay millions in debt. The Orange County Register.
Landsberg, W. (2015, April 2). Rev. Robert H. Schuller, who built Crystal Cathedral, dies at 88. The Los Angeles Times.
Mohler, R. A. (2020, June 26). The Strange Tale of Robert Schuller and the Crystal Cathedral: A Conversation with Sociologists Mark T. Mulder and Gerardo Marti. AlbertMohler.com.
Pfeifer, J. (2025, April 15). From Drive-In to Mega Church to modern Ministry: Prof explores ‘Most important forgotten religious figure of the last century.’ Davidson College.
Schuller, R. H. (1996). Prayer: My Soul’s Adventure with God. Image.
Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements 