What's to become of the Crystal Cathedral?

As one who is not immediately drawn to television evangelicals, I should probably care less about the ministry of the (infamous?) Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California.  Still, as I remember my own mother faithfully "worshiping" with Robert H. Schuler and his cast of evangelical and musical luminaries, I suppose that I have a fleeting interest.  Of course, too, there is the organ.

Of it, the Cathedral's web site states:

"The stately Hazel Wright Pipe Organ inside the Crystal Cathedral is the most widely heard organ in the world today, made possible through our Hour of Power television ministry. The organ also ranks among the world’s largest in scale.

This magnificent instrument was made possible by more than $2 million in gifts from Mrs. Hazel Wright of Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Wright and her husband were viewers of Dr. Schuller’s weekly television program, “Hour of Power.” As adorers of the church’s music, they sought to thank Dr. Schuller for his ministry with the gift of a pipe organ for his congregation’s new worship space. With Mrs. Wright’s enthusiastic support and participation, world-recognized organ virtuoso Virgil Fox was asked to design an instrument befitting the splendid glass cathedral.


Mr. Fox’s design combined the historic 1962, 100-rank Aeolian-Skinner instrument from New York’s Lincoln Center with the church’s 1977, 94-rank Ruffatti organ from the Neutra Sanctuary. In addition, Ruffatti installed 29 new ranks.

Following its 1982 dedication, the organ was significantly enlarged and enhanced during the 16-year tenure of renowned Organist Emeritus Frederick Swann.  The organ now utilizes 270 ranks, 31 digital ranks, and more than 16,000 pipes. Its 14 divisions are fully playable from two five-manual consoles."

While maybe not as eye-catching as the organ at the L.A. Philharmonic's Disney Hall, it is still a wonder to behold:

The "Hazel Wright" Organ

 .....as well as to hear (forgive all the tacky people in a hurry to get away).  What a sound!

Aeolian Skinner Op. 1388 in Philharmonic Hall

The original instrument was designed for use in Philharmonic (now Avery Fisher) Hall in Lincoln Center.  This "state of the art" facility's acoustics were immediately proclaimed inadequate and several futile attempts to correct the problem ensued.  Finally the decision was made to completely gut the hall and start from scratch with a huge reconstruction (financed in part--$10.5 million by Avery Fisher) completed in 1976.  At that time the organ was removed, never to appear again and the hall?  Further renovations in 1992 and as recently as 2009-10 have done little to improve the situation, except to make the return of a substantive instrument merely a pipe dream.

What is to become of this noble instrument now that the existence of the Crystal Cathedral itself is in jeopardy?  Surely such a grand instrument requires a space worthy of its spaciousness and sheer speaking power.  The fact that the original instrument had to be moved from New York (and its own mighty orchestra) was bad enough; that this wonderful instrument could possibly be silenced would be yet another dishonor to Op. 1388.

And one has to wonder when the L.A. Philharmonic has this:

Rosales, Op. 24

And Philadelphia's Verizon Hall has this:

Dobson (from Iowa!) Op. 76

....and even the great Casavant is returning to Detroit's Orchestra Hall, New York City's cultural center is left with:







Yes, that's right.......nothing.