American Televangelist Robert Schuller Dies

Rev Robert Schuller watched his empire crumble in his waning years, including the sale of his landmark Crystal Cathedral.

By Sky News US Team

Thursday 2 April 2015 17:45, UK

REV ROBERT SCHULLER AND WIFE ARRIVE FOR GREGORY PECK MEMORIAL SERVICE 2003
Image: Rev Robert Schuller pictured with his wife Arvella in 2003
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American televangelist Robert H Schuller, whose television programme reached 20 million viewers worldwide at its peak, has died at age 88.

Reverend Schuller died early on Thursday at a care facility in Southern California, his daughter Carol Schuller Milner said.

He was diagnosed in 2013 with a tumour in his oesophagus that had spread to his lymph nodes.

View of statue of Moses on the grounds of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California
Image: Rev Schuller's Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grover, California

Rev Schuller rose to fame through his "Hour of Power" broadcast in the 1970s.

In 1980, he built his landmark Crystal Cathedral - a towering 2,800-seat glass-and-steel church - located in Garden Grove, California.

Rev Robert H Schuller seated next to then-first lady Hillary Clinton at 1997 State of the Union Address
Image: Rev Schuller and then-first lady Hillary Clinton at 1997 State of the Union

At its peak in the 1990s, Rev Schuller's programme had 20 million viewers in about 180 countries.

But in recent years, the upbeat and charismatic preacher whose advise was sought by such dignitaries as US presidents, was forced to watch his empire crumble.

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Rev Schuller prays alongside President George W Bush prays while attending memorial for Coretta Scott King in Georgia
Image: Rev Schuller with president George W Bush at Coretta Scott King's memorial

By 2006, his son Rev Robert A Schuller had taken over as the church's senior pastor, but declining audience and revenue saw him out just two years later.

The church filed for bankruptcy in 2010 and the soaring glass cathedral was sold to the local Roman Catholic Diocese the following year.

Rev Schuller founded his first ministry in 1955 with his late wife, Arvella. The couple used money he had earned preaching at a drive-in movie theatre.