Joshua Bennett
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel located in Sedona, Arizona. It was built from 1954 to 1956 into the red rock buttes of Sedona, within the Coconino National Forest. The chapel is known for its unique architecture, sitting high atop the red rocks, and has become a popular attraction, drawing over 1,000,000 visitors from around the world each year. While it is open to people of all faiths, the chapel was inspired by Catholic sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude, who envisioned a cruciform-shaped church while viewing the Empire State Building in 1932.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Sedona, Arizona |
| Construction | Built into the red rock buttes of Sedona, Arizona, within the Coconino National Forest |
| Inspiration | The Empire State Building |
| Architect | August K. Strotz of the firm of Anshen & Allen, with Richard Hein of the firm as the project architect |
| Commissioner | Local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude |
| Ministry | Conducted by St. John Vianney Parish, Sedona |
| Diocese | Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix |
| Visitors | Over 1,000,000 visitors from around the world every year |
| Features | A 90 ft (27.4 m) tall iron cross on the southwestern wall, relics of the Twelve Apostles, and a gift shop |
| Services | Mass, Confession, Taizé Prayer Service |
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What You'll Learn
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel
The Chapel of the Holy Cross was inspired and commissioned by local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude, who was a devout Roman Catholic. Staude first had the idea for a cruciform-shaped church in 1932 while viewing the newly constructed Empire State Building. She wrote, "When viewed from a certain angle, a cross seemed to impose itself through the very core of the structure. What an idea for a church! For days it haunted and obsessed me, insisting on taking shape." Staude's vision was brought to life by architect August K. Strotz of the firm of Anshen & Allen, with Richard Hein of the firm serving as the project architect.
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. In addition to its architectural significance, the chapel also houses the relics of the Twelve Apostles and offers visitors an opportunity to light candles for loved ones.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross has been designated an official Jubilee Site of the Diocese of Phoenix for the 2025 Jubilee Year. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011 and voted one of the Seven Man-Made Wonders of Arizona in 2007. The chapel attracts over 1,000,000 visitors from around the world each year, who come to pray, reflect, and admire its unique setting and design.
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It was built between 1954 and 1956
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel nestled in the red rock buttes of Sedona, Arizona, within the Coconino National Forest. It was built between 1954 and 1956, with groundbreaking in 1955. 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 was inspired and commissioned by local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude, who was a generous benefactor and patroness of the arts. Staude was a devout Roman Catholic, and she dedicated the chapel in memory of her parents to "Finding God through Art". She first conceived of the chapel in 1932, drawing inspiration from the newly constructed Empire State Building. Staude had a vision of a cruciform-shaped church, with a powerful image of a steel framework. She described her idea, saying:
> "When viewed from a certain angle, a cross seemed to impose itself through the very core of the structure. What an idea for a church! For days it haunted and obsessed me, insisting on taking shape."
Staude initially attempted to build the chapel in Budapest, Hungary, with the help of Lloyd Wright, son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. However, this plan was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II. Staude then decided to build the chapel in her home state of Arizona. The chapel was designed by August K. Strotz of the firm Anshen & Allen, with Richard Hein serving as the project architect.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is more than just a place of worship; it is a work of art that attracts over 1,000,000 visitors from around the world every year. The main feature of the chapel is a 90-foot-tall iron cross on the southwestern wall, serving both aesthetic and structural purposes. The cross holds both the altar and Corpus on the interior. The chapel has been designated an official Jubilee Site of the Diocese of Phoenix for the 2025 Jubilee Year and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
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It is located in Sedona, Arizona
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel located in Sedona, Arizona. It is built into the red rock buttes of Sedona, within the Coconino National Forest. Sedona, a city in Arizona's high desert country, is about two hours north of Phoenix via Arizona Highway 179. It is known for its hiking trails and massive red-rock formations.
The chapel, situated at 780 Chapel Road, is perched atop the red rocks, offering a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape. It was constructed between 1954 and 1956 and was inspired and commissioned by local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude. Staude, a devout Catholic, was inspired by the steel framework of the Empire State Building and envisioned a cruciform-shaped church.
The chapel features a 90-foot-tall iron cross on its southwestern wall, serving both aesthetic and structural purposes. The cross holds the altar and Corpus on the interior. The chapel's walls and cross are constructed with reinforced coarse-aggregate concrete, with a thickness of one foot. The interior and exterior walls have been sandblasted to reveal a textured aggregate, and smokey-gray-coloured glass is used at both ends to reduce glare.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross has been designated an official Jubilee Site of the Diocese of Phoenix for the 2025 Jubilee Year. It was also voted by Arizonans as one of the Seven Man-Made Wonders of Arizona in 2007. The chapel attracts over one million visitors from around the world each year and is considered one of the top attractions in Sedona.
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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. It was built from 1954 to 1956 into the red rock buttes of Sedona, within the Coconino National Forest. 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 has been designated an official Jubilee Site of the Diocese of Phoenix for the 2025 Jubilee Year.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross was inspired by the Empire State Building in New York. European-born architect Marguerite Brunswig Staude first had the idea for a cruciform-shaped church in 1932 while viewing the newly constructed Empire State Building. In her own words, "When viewed from a certain angle, a cross seemed to impose itself through the very core of the structure. What an idea for a church! For days it haunted and obsessed me, insisting on taking shape."
Staude noticed that the steel framework of the Empire State Building resembled a cross, and this powerful image inspired the design of the chapel's 90-foot-tall iron cross on the southwestern wall. This cross serves both aesthetic and structural purposes, holding the altar and Corpus on the interior.
Staude collaborated with Lloyd Wright, the son of famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, to bring her vision to life. However, due to the outbreak of World War II, their initial plan to build the chapel in Budapest, Hungary, overlooking the Danube, had to be abandoned. Instead, Staude worked with Richard Hein and August K. Strotz of the Anshen & Allen architecture company to find a new location in Sedona, Arizona.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross has become a popular attraction, drawing over 1,000,000 visitors from around the world each year. It offers a beautiful place for prayer and reflection, with a simple interior that includes an altar, pews, and physical block glass windows that emphasize the spiritual inflection of the space. The chapel has been recognized for its architectural significance, receiving an Award of Honor from the American Institute of Architects in 1957 and being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
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It is open to people of all faiths
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. Its ministry is conducted by St. John Vianney Parish, Sedona. The chapel was inspired and commissioned by local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude, who was struck by the newly constructed Empire State Building in 1932. Staude wrote that the chapel, though Catholic in faith, was intended to have a universal appeal. She wrote:
> 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 has been designated a Jubilee Site of the Diocese of Phoenix for the 2025 Jubilee Year. It is open to people of all faiths, attracting over 1,000,000 visitors from around the world every year. While the chapel does not operate as a Catholic church, it offers Mass on Wednesdays and Fridays and has confession available. It also has the relics of the Twelve Apostles and an opportunity to light a candle for a loved one. The chapel features a 90-foot-tall iron cross on the southwestern wall, which holds both the altar and Corpus on the interior.
In recent years, Fr. Kleczewski has been working to reclaim the chapel as a sacred site in the Catholic tradition. He has introduced a new crucifix, which has had a profound effect on visitors, encouraging them to sit in the pews and pray. The chapel stands as a testament to Staude's original vision of creating a place where people could encounter God's love and the beauty of His creation.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel. It was built from 1954 to 1956 into the red rock buttes of Sedona, Arizona.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross was dedicated to "Finding God through Art" by Margarite Staude, who was a generous benefactor and patroness of the arts. Staude was inspired by the construction of the Empire State Building.
Yes, the Chapel of the Holy Cross is open to the public and attracts over 1,000,000 visitors from around the world every year. It is located at 780 Chapel Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336.
