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The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Catholic chapel built into the buttes of Sedona, Arizona. It was inspired by the vision of Marguerite Brunswig Staude. She’d imagined a cross superimposed on the newly constructed Empire State Building in 1932 and set out to build the grand chapel of her dreams.
After a failed attempt to build the chapel in Budapest, Staude set her sights on her home town of Sedona. She chose a site within Coconino National forest and had to obtain a special-use permit from the Secretary of the Interior to build there.
It took 18 months to build the chapel at a cost of $300,000. It was completed in 1956. The 11 acres on which Holy Cross sits is still owned by the US Forest service, but is managed by the local Roman Catholic Diocese.
It’s a simple, humble structure set in a majestic backdrop. It is too small to host regular services, so it serves as a non-denominational shrine for the thousands who visit it each year.
To see my other Sedona posts, click below:
- Devil’s Bridge
- Bell Rock (coming soon)
- Chapel of the Holy Cross
Location: 780 Chapel Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336
Designation: National Historic Landmark
Date designated or established: October 6, 2011 (added to NRHP)
Date of my visit: August 23, 2014
Another hidden treasure and the reason I and your followers are glad that you expanded your blog to include other public landmarks besides National Parks. The chapel is marvelous and we will make a side trip the next time we are in Arizona.
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Thanks Don! I don’t know how hidden some of these treasures are anymore, with the advent of social media. I saw pictures of this place on Instagram back when I was planning this trip which led me to incorporate it into our itinerary. 🙂
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Just beautiful photos. I especially like the ones of the chapel. They incorporated it so well into the existing environment! Thank you!
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Thanks! It is so unique, I’m glad we had the chance to see it in person
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That looks awesome. What a great design.
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Yes, it was pretty awesome to see it in person!
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Sedona rocks huh!! if your still near flagstaff see if you can find the edge of the world area that over looks oak creak from flag! thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for commenting! We loved Sedona, but this was a few years ago. Maybe next time!
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A place I would love to see. Hey, you were on holy ground. I hope you had fun rubbing your feet on the floor of the church.
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It is just lovely
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What an interesting setting for that church! Beautiful. 🙂
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It is! Glad we made a point of stopping by to visit.
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Nice photos! I don’t recall seeing this place. That’s a lot of money to spend in such a project back in those days!
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Thanks! From what I read, Marguerite Staude was incredibly persistent in making her vision a reality (and wealthy.) I seem to recall she went to DC to lobby her senator to get the permission from the Director of the Interior to use the National Forest land.
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Pushy rich people! 😉
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😂😂😂
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I visited here once solely because I saw pictures of this church on the internet previously!
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Me too…saw it on Instagram 🙂
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