Cathedral of Tomorrow
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral of Tomorrow was built in 1958 as home to Rex Humbard
's ministry. The Cathedral, a round building with the sanctuary in the middle and classrooms and offices around the edges, located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
, seats 5,400. It has a domed roof with a large illuminated cross that hangs from the ceiling. The cross weighs 32 tons (to give the domed roof greater architectural strength during wind storms) and is illuminated with 4,700 lights which can change colors. It is one of the largest interior crosses in the world. When the cathedral was built it was the largest permanently domed building in the world without interior pillar support. This gives the audience greater visibility toward the stage.
Under Rex Humbard's ministry, Cathedral services were broadcast on 600 television stations in the United States
and Canada
, as well as on stations in many other countries.
The influential Gospel quartet
Cathedral Quartet
had their origin at the Cathedral of Tomorrow.
Humbard began to build a rotating tower restaurant (similar to Calgary Tower
) at his Cathedral of Tomorrow complex, which was also slated to hold a transmission tower for his planned local TV station, WCOT-TV (Channel 55; the license was later used by current day CW
affiliate WBNX-TV
). After the concrete for the tower was poured, though, construction stopped. Neighbors filed lawsuits and Northampton Township
, the community governing the Cathedral complex at that time, said that there were no provisions for water and sewer service for the tower. The actual reason for the end of construction is still an open issue. In 1989 local grocer and lone bidder Mike Krieger bid $30,000 to win the auction at a sheriff's sale held to raise money to pay toward debts owed to the tower's builder. Today it is used as a cellular phone tower.
After Humbard moved his ministry to Florida
in the 1980s, the Cathedral was home to a series of independent local churches which had increasingly fewer ties with the Humbard family.
In 1994, the cathedral was sold to the Reverend Ernest Angley
's ministry, and was rededicated as Grace Cathedral, the name of Angley's previous house of worship. It's adjacent to an office complex that contains a diorama museum called 'The Life Of Christ' which was a lifelong sculpture work by artist Paul Cunningham, and a very popular family style restaurant called the 'Cathedral Buffet'.
Angley also purchased the Cathedral of Tomorrow's television studio facilities in the mid-1980s, which are used to produce his own television programs and house the offices of WBNX-TV
, the Cathedral Buffet restaurant as well as other leased office space.
Rex Humbard
Alpha Rex Emmanuel Humbard was a well-known American television evangelist whose Cathedral of Tomorrow show was shown on over 600 stations at the peak of its popularity....
's ministry. The Cathedral, a round building with the sanctuary in the middle and classrooms and offices around the edges, located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,374 people, 21,655 households, and 13,317 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,932.9 people per square mile . There were 22,727 housing units at an average density of 889.7 per square mile...
, seats 5,400. It has a domed roof with a large illuminated cross that hangs from the ceiling. The cross weighs 32 tons (to give the domed roof greater architectural strength during wind storms) and is illuminated with 4,700 lights which can change colors. It is one of the largest interior crosses in the world. When the cathedral was built it was the largest permanently domed building in the world without interior pillar support. This gives the audience greater visibility toward the stage.
Under Rex Humbard's ministry, Cathedral services were broadcast on 600 television stations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, as well as on stations in many other countries.
The influential Gospel quartet
Gospel quartet
The term Gospel quartet refers to several different traditions of harmony singing. Its origins are varied, including 4-part hymn singing, shapenote singing, barbershop quartets, jubilee songs, spirituals, and other Gospel songs....
Cathedral Quartet
Cathedral Quartet
The Cathedral Quartet, often known as simply The Cathedrals, was an American southern gospel quartet that lasted from 1964 until their retirement in 1999....
had their origin at the Cathedral of Tomorrow.
Humbard began to build a rotating tower restaurant (similar to Calgary Tower
Calgary Tower
The Calgary Tower is a 191 metre free standing observation tower in Downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Originally called the Husky Tower, it was conceived as a joint venture between Marathon Realty Company Limited and Husky Oil as part of an urban renewal plan and to celebrate Canada's centennial...
) at his Cathedral of Tomorrow complex, which was also slated to hold a transmission tower for his planned local TV station, WCOT-TV (Channel 55; the license was later used by current day CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
affiliate WBNX-TV
WBNX-TV
WBNX-TV, virtual channel 55 , is the CW television affiliate serving the Cleveland/Akron/Canton, Ohio television market; it brands itself as "WBNX, The CW". The studios are located in Cuyahoga Falls and the transmitter is in Parma, although it is licensed to Akron...
). After the concrete for the tower was poured, though, construction stopped. Neighbors filed lawsuits and Northampton Township
Northampton Township, Summit County, Ohio
Northampton was one of the 16 original townships in Summit County, Ohio. It was in the middle of Summit County, bordering Akron and Cuyahoga Falls. No incorporated areas were formed within the township but Akron and Cuyahoga Falls expanded into Northamption via annexation. In 1986, Northampton...
, the community governing the Cathedral complex at that time, said that there were no provisions for water and sewer service for the tower. The actual reason for the end of construction is still an open issue. In 1989 local grocer and lone bidder Mike Krieger bid $30,000 to win the auction at a sheriff's sale held to raise money to pay toward debts owed to the tower's builder. Today it is used as a cellular phone tower.
After Humbard moved his ministry to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in the 1980s, the Cathedral was home to a series of independent local churches which had increasingly fewer ties with the Humbard family.
In 1994, the cathedral was sold to the Reverend Ernest Angley
Ernest Angley
Ernest Angley is an international Christian evangelist, based in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.-Grace Cathedral:Ernest Angley's interdenominational ministry was originally based at Grace Cathedral in Springfield Township, Ohio southeast of Akron...
's ministry, and was rededicated as Grace Cathedral, the name of Angley's previous house of worship. It's adjacent to an office complex that contains a diorama museum called 'The Life Of Christ' which was a lifelong sculpture work by artist Paul Cunningham, and a very popular family style restaurant called the 'Cathedral Buffet'.
Angley also purchased the Cathedral of Tomorrow's television studio facilities in the mid-1980s, which are used to produce his own television programs and house the offices of WBNX-TV
WBNX-TV
WBNX-TV, virtual channel 55 , is the CW television affiliate serving the Cleveland/Akron/Canton, Ohio television market; it brands itself as "WBNX, The CW". The studios are located in Cuyahoga Falls and the transmitter is in Parma, although it is licensed to Akron...
, the Cathedral Buffet restaurant as well as other leased office space.