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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.
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. 🙂
Just beautiful photos. I especially like the ones of the chapel. They incorporated it so well into the existing environment! Thank you!
Thanks! It is so unique, I’m glad we had the chance to see it in person
That looks awesome. What a great design.
Yes, it was pretty awesome to see it in person!
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!
Thanks for commenting! We loved Sedona, but this was a few years ago. Maybe next time!
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.
It is just lovely
What an interesting setting for that church! Beautiful. 🙂
It is! Glad we made a point of stopping by to visit.
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!
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.
Pushy rich people! 😉
😂😂😂
I visited here once solely because I saw pictures of this church on the internet previously!
Me too…saw it on Instagram 🙂
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