Chapel of the Holy Cross (Sedona, Arizona) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids The Chapel of the Holy Cross
(2021)
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic Church
Location
Location	780 Chapel Road, Sedona, Arizona
Architecture
Architect(s)	August K. Strotz and Richard Hein of Anshen & Allen
Architectural style	Contextualism
General contractor	William Simpson Construction Company
Groundbreaking	1954
Completed	1956
Construction cost	$300,000
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Added to NRHP	October 6, 2011
NRHP Reference no.	10000947

The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a special Roman Catholic chapel built right into the amazing red rocks of Sedona, Arizona. It was constructed between 1954 and 1956, fitting perfectly into the natural landscape of the Coconino National Forest.

A local artist and rancher named Marguerite Brunswig Staude dreamed up this chapel. She hired architects August K. Strotz and Richard Hein to design it. Today, the chapel is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix and is looked after by St. John Vianney Parish in Sedona. It's so unique that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011, which means it's an important historical site.

Building the Chapel
Chapel Features
Gallery
See also

Building the Chapel

A Dream Comes True

The idea for the chapel came from Marguerite Brunswig Staude. In 1932, she was inspired by the tall Empire State Building in New York City. She wanted to build a church that was just as grand and inspiring.

Marguerite first tried to build her dream church in Budapest, Hungary. She even worked with Lloyd Wright, who was the son of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. However, World War II started, and her plans in Hungary had to be stopped.

After the war, Marguerite decided to build the chapel in her home state of Arizona. She chose the beautiful red rock area of Sedona.

Construction and Design

The chapel's design was created by architect August K. Strotz. Richard Hein was the project architect. They worked for a company called Anshen & Allen.

The chapel was built on land that belongs to the Coconino National Forest. Senator Barry Goldwater helped Marguerite get special permission to build there.

The construction was managed by Fred Coukos from the William Simpson Construction Company. It took only 18 months to build the chapel. The cost was about $300,000, which was a lot of money back then! Workers moved over 25 tons of rock without using any dynamite. The chapel was finished in 1956.

The inside of the chapel is simple and peaceful.

Awards and Welcome

In 1957, the American Institute of Architects gave the Chapel an Award of Honor. This shows how special its design was.

Marguerite Brunswig Staude said that even though it's a Catholic chapel, it's a work of art for everyone. She wanted its doors to always be open to people of all beliefs. She hoped it would help people feel closer to God.

In 2007, people in Arizona voted the chapel as one of the "Seven Man-Made Wonders of Arizona." This means it's considered one of the most amazing buildings in the state.

Chapel Features

Entering the Chapel

When you visit the chapel, you walk up a long, curved ramp from the parking area. This ramp is made of textured concrete. It leads you right up to the chapel's entrance.

The Giant Cross

The most striking part of the chapel is a huge iron cross. It's 90 feet (27.4 meters) tall and is on the southwestern wall. This cross is not just for looks; it also helps hold up the building!

Marguerite Staude got the idea for this giant cross from the steel frames of skyscrapers like the Empire State Building. A sculptor named Keith Monroe helped bring her idea to life. Inside the chapel, the cross holds the altar and a sculpture of Jesus Christ.

Building Materials

The walls and the cross are made from strong concrete. This concrete is about 1 foot (0.3 meters) thick. After the concrete was poured, it was sandblasted. This made the walls look rough and textured, showing the tiny rocks inside the concrete.

To keep the bright Arizona sun from causing too much glare, the chapel uses smokey-gray glass at its two ends. The floor inside is smooth concrete. The front doors are made of aluminum and have cool horn-shaped handles.

A Strong and Grand Look

All these materials and the simple, angled shapes make the chapel look very grand and strong. This fits perfectly with its surroundings. The chapel sits at the base of a 1,500-foot (457.2 meters) cliff. It is surrounded by huge sandstone rocks.

The chapel can seat up to 150 people. Downstairs, in the basement, there are other rooms. These include a confessional, an office, and two sacristies (rooms where priests prepare for services).