Sarah Mitchell
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel located in Sedona, Arizona. Built between 1954 and 1956, it is nestled in the red rock buttes of Sedona, within the Coconino National Forest. The chapel is known for its unique architecture, inspired by the Empire State Building, and attracts over a million visitors annually. While it is a Catholic chapel, it is open to people of all faiths, serving as a place for prayer, reflection, and encountering God's love and beauty.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Sedona, Arizona |
| Address | 780 Chapel Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336 |
| Phone | 928-282-7545 |
| [email protected] | |
| Mass | Wednesdays and Fridays at 3 pm |
| Confession | Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:00 pm to 2:45 pm |
| Adoration | Wednesdays and Fridays from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm |
| Taizé Prayer Service | Mondays at 5 pm |
| Jubilee Site | Designated by the Diocese of Phoenix for the 2025 Jubilee Year |
| National Register of Historic Places | Added in 2011 |
| Design | Built into the red rock buttes of Sedona |
| Inspiration | Empire State Building |
| Architect | Marguerite Brunswig Staude |
| Ministry | Conducted by St. John Vianney Parish, Sedona |
| Visitors | Over 1,000,000 visitors annually |
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What You'll Learn
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel
The chapel was designed by August K. Strotz of the firm of Anshen & Allen, with Richard Hein of the same firm as the project architect. It is under the auspices of the episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix and its ministry is conducted by St. John Vianney Parish, Sedona. The chapel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011 and designated an official Jubilee Site of the Diocese of Phoenix for the 2025 Jubilee Year.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is rated as one of the top three attractions in Sedona, attracting over 1,000,000 visitors from around the world every year. It has been described as a "work of art" with "universal appeal" by Staude, who also said that its "doors will ever be open to one and all, regardless of creed". In 2007, Arizonans voted the chapel to be one of the Seven Man-Made Wonders of Arizona. The chapel features a 90-foot-tall iron cross on the southwestern wall, which serves both aesthetic and structural purposes. The cross holds both the altar and Corpus on the interior.
The chapel offers Mass at 3 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays, with Confession from 1 pm to 2:45 pm. It also has a Taizé Prayer Service on Mondays at 5 pm. Visitors can also light a candle for a loved one and view the relics of the Twelve Apostles.
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It was built into Arizona's red rock landscape
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel built into the red rock buttes of Sedona, Arizona. It is located within the Coconino National Forest and was constructed between 1954 and 1956. The chapel was inspired by the newly constructed Empire State Building, which was built in 1932, and other skyscrapers. The idea for the chapel came from local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude, who wanted to create a powerful religious image akin to the steel framework of the Empire State Building. Staude had initially attempted to build a similar church in Budapest, Hungary, with the help of Lloyd Wright, the son of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. However, this plan was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II.
The chapel's design is by architect August K. Strotz, and the project architect was Richard Hein, both of the Anshen & Allen firm. The design process began in 1953, and upon seeing the site, the architects remarked, "Nature has done everything here. All we have to do is understate." The construction was supervised by Fred Coukos of the William Simpson Construction Company and was completed in 18 months at a cost of $300,000. Over 25 tons of rock were moved without the use of dynamite to build the chapel.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a stunning structure built high atop the red rocks of Sedona. It offers a beautiful setting for prayer and reflection, attracting over 1,000,000 visitors from around the world each year. The chapel features a 90-foot-tall iron cross on its southwestern wall, serving both aesthetic and structural purposes. The cross holds both the altar and Corpus on the interior. The walls and cross are constructed with reinforced coarse-aggregate concrete, with a thickness of one foot. The interior and exterior walls were sandblasted to create a textured aggregate finish.
The chapel has been designated an official Jubilee Site of the Diocese of Phoenix for the 2025 Jubilee Year. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. In 2007, Arizonans voted for the Chapel of the Holy Cross to be one of the Seven Man-Made Wonders of Arizona. The chapel is under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix and its ministry is conducted by St. John Vianney Parish in Sedona.
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The chapel is open to all, regardless of creed
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel built into the red rock buttes of Sedona, Arizona. It was constructed between 1954 and 1956 and is under the auspices of the episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix. The chapel's ministry is conducted by St. John Vianney Parish, Sedona, a Roman Catholic Parish.
Despite its Catholic denomination, the chapel is open to all, regardless of creed. In the words of its sculptor, Marguerite Brunswig Staude:
> "Though Catholic in faith, as a work of art, the Chapel has a universal appeal. Its doors will ever be open to one and all, regardless of creed, that God may come to life in the souls of all men and be a living reality."
The chapel's inclusive nature is reflected in its designation as a Jubilee Site of the Diocese of Phoenix for the 2025 Jubilee Year. This designation signifies that the chapel is a sacred site in the Catholic tradition, welcoming visitors from all backgrounds to experience its beauty and spiritual significance.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross attracts over 1,000,000 visitors from around the world every year. It offers a beautiful space for prayer and reflection, with Mass held regularly on Wednesdays and Fridays. Visitors can also explore the chapel's gift shop, view the relics of the Twelve Apostles, and light candles for loved ones. The chapel's striking design, set against the backdrop of Sedona's red rocks, has earned it acclaim as one of the top attractions in the region.
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It was inspired by the Empire State Building
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel located in Sedona, Arizona, within the Coconino National Forest. It was built from 1954 to 1956 into the red rock buttes of Sedona. The chapel is under the auspices of the episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, and its ministry is conducted by St. John Vianney Parish, Sedona. The chapel attracts over 1,000,000 visitors from around the world every year.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross was inspired by the construction of the Empire State Building. In 1932, local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude was inspired by the newly constructed Empire State Building to build such a church. Staude was particularly struck by the powerful image of the steel framework and other skyscrapers, which influenced the design of the chapel's 90-foot-tall iron cross on the southwestern wall. This cross serves both aesthetic and structural purposes, holding both the altar and Corpus on the interior.
Staude worked with her friend Lloyd Wright, the son of famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, to form models and drawings for the chapel. However, their initial attempt to build the chapel in Budapest, Hungary, was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II. Determined to bring her vision to life, Staude commissioned the project, which was designed by August K. Strotz of the firm of Anshen & Allen, with Richard Hein as the project architect.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is built right into Sedona's red rock landscape, with upwards of 25 tons of rock moved without the use of dynamite. The bold, simple structure complements the natural beauty of the rock outcropping, and the cross, though conventional, is an important structural element handled in a visually exciting way. The chapel has been recognised for its architectural significance, receiving an award citation in the 1954 Progressive Architecture Award Program and the Award of Honor from the American Institute of Architects in 1957.
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It is a popular tourist attraction
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a popular tourist attraction, drawing over a million visitors from around the world each year. Located in Sedona, Arizona, the chapel sits atop the region's famous red rocks, providing a stunning backdrop for photographs. It was built from 1954 to 1956 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
The chapel's unique setting and design have earned it several accolades. In 2007, Arizonans voted for it as one of the Seven Man-Made Wonders of Arizona. It has also been designated one of the "10 most beautiful churches in the world" by Architectural Digest. The chapel is further recognized as one of the top three attractions in Sedona and rated the number one attraction by some sources.
The chapel's appeal extends beyond its visual beauty. Its design symbolizes the fusion of faith and art, with a universal appeal that welcomes people of all denominations. Marguerite Brunswig Staude, the chapel's European-born architect, envisioned a cruciform-shaped church inspired by the Empire State Building's steel framework. Staude, who came from a devout Catholic family, wanted to create a space where people could encounter God's love and the beauty of His creation.
The chapel is under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix but does not function as a traditional Catholic church. It offers a space for prayer and reflection, with regular masses, confessions, and other Catholic traditions observed. Visitors can also explore the gift shop, light candles for loved ones, and view the relics of the Twelve Apostles. The chapel's recent addition of a new crucifix has further enhanced its spiritual atmosphere, encouraging quiet contemplation and prayer.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is located in Sedona, Arizona.
The Chapel is open from 9 am to 5 pm. The last entry is at 4:45 pm.
