Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona

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The Church of the Rock is the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona. Built on two pinnacled spur rocks approximately 250 feet high. It juts our of a thousand foot red rock wall representing the solid Rock of Peter in the Bible. The concept of building the chapel was Marguerite Bruswig's. The New York native with three names – Margueritte Bruswig Staude came up with the idea in 1934, the chapel was completed in 1956. Staude conceived the idea while traveling through Sedona, where she was taken by the beauty of the land. It was to be a monument to faith. A spiritual fortress guarded only by God, and aimed at bringing back lost souls to God.

The chapel is a testimony of great architectural achievement. It is a great place of meditation, a pilgrim place for many Catholics. It is but a small chapel, a great reminder to many to renew their faith. It has a small gift shop below.

I highly recommend a stop here if you visit Sedona. I had a great time with the travbuddies I traveled with. I was able to light a candle for my Dad and brother, both deceased.

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This Roman Catholic chapel is one of the main tourist attractions in Sedona. It is built right between 2 red rocks on a so-called Vortex spot. The location is unique
And though we knew that the chapel is unpretetious and sparsely decorated, we wanted to see it while it is designed by Marguerite Brunswig Staude, a student of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The out of time look of this chapel is typical for the FLW school.

For those who like Roman Catholic gadgets: don't miss the gift shop under the chapel.

You need to park the car about 700 feet below the chapel, and then it's a steep walk uphill, but there are golf carts riding up and down to pick up and drop off those who prefer not to walk.

Built by a Catholic woman to honor her parents, there are no services held in the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Anyone of any faith may come and take in the site, which is wonderfully peaceful in my opinion. Today, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix maintains the site, but the no services thing is still in effect.

When you go, look for:

1) What looks like an "Rx" in the rock beneath the chapel. When the woman who had the chapel built was selecting her site, she apparently saw this ancient symbol and took it as a sign that she had found the right place. Now the story I heard was that the "Rx" is really an unfinished "Bx", a brand from some local 100+ year old drunken cowboys. (Please don't let this undermine my comment that that I srongly suggest a visit to this breathtaking place.)

2) The eagle that guards the Chapel - a natural formation! Check my travelouge for pictures.

3) The madonna and child rock - another natural formation - pictures also in the travelogue.

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This is a beautiful church nestled in natural rock. It's interesting to think about how a church is where people feel closest to God, and this in particular is man-made structure partially built in the crevices of God-made rock.

We only stopped here briefly while on our way out of town, but it was an experience all its own. This gives you spectacular views of the red rocks that Sedona is famous for, without having to hike (paved road and shuttle to top great for children, elderly, and disabled). There is also a beautiful mansion just below that you have a nice view of.

There is also a gift shop below the chapel, but I did not go inside so I can't comment on that.

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We followed the directions up the hill (Chapel Road) until we came to a roadside parking area from where we began the remaining steep climb to the top on foot.
It was a hard pull on a hot day with the sun high in the sky! So it was a relief to reach - of all things - a bus/buggy stop from where a free shuttle will take you up the last steepest bit of the climb.
The Chapel was designed by a woman, artist and sculptor, Margurite Brunswig Staude, and the building was completed in 1956.
It stands between two peaks of red sandstone, visible but not overly obtruding on the natural skyline. Its total height is 250ft and the cross is 90ft.

The simple interior has, through the large window behind the altar views across the valley to the mountains beyond.
It was exceptionally crowded when we arrived - with an even bigger crowd outside to the right of the entrance - looking down on an ostentatious, inappropriately located, multi-million-dollar mansion.

We waited outside until a large group left all together so we were able to step inside for a few moments.
It was nice to feel the peace that pervaded the chapel for that very short time.

We were told by an elderly man outside that he attends a regular service held there.
According to the leaflet a Taize Prayer Service is help at 5pm every Monday.

The Chapel is open every day and comes under the Diocese of Phoenix and the Catholic Church of St. John Vianney in Sedona.

There is a small gift shop but it was too crowded to enter when we were there.

The concept of the chapel came to Marguerite Bruswig Staude a New Yorker, in 1932.
While traveling through Sedona, she was struck by the beauty of the area and decided that this chapel should be built here. “This would be a monument to faith, but a spiritual fortress so charged with God, that it spurs man's spirit godward".

Built on a twin pinnacled spur about 250 feet high, jutting out of a thousand foot red rock wall, "solid as the Rock of Peter" the building of the Chapel was completed in April 1956. The Diocese of Phoenix and St John Vianney parish has maintained and administered the Chapel since 1969.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix and Saint John Vianney Parish welcomes visitors to this amazing place of meditation - Chapel of the Holy Cross.

We always love bringing friends to this wonderful place because the views are just spectacular and our pictures always turn out to be very nice...great great views of the red rocks!

Built on a twin pinnacled spur about 250 feet high along Hihgway 179, jutting out of a thousand foot red rock wall, "solid as the Rock of Peter" the building of the Chapel was completed in April 1956. the Artist Marguerite Brunswig was said to have been inspired by the Empire State Building and she developed plans with the son of famous Frank Lloyd Wright, Lloyd Wright.

The message of the Chapel "That the Church may come to life in the souls of men and be a living reality is renewed and observed each day. Even as we speak it invites all to come to spend time to get connected with their creator. ..

You can actually even spot some mountain climbers hanging on to their lives at the side of the rocks! When you park at the bottom of the Chapel, you just walk up a curved pavement and then voila, the Chapel where you can sit and meditate. they also have a souvenir and religious gift shop at the lower level which has some of the best rosaries you can find.

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There are some very lovely things to see and appreciate while you visiting this lovely Chapel. There many little gardens here and there, so be sure to look around to see them. Make sure to not let you children climb all over them too.

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The Holy Cross Chapel is located at the top of a red rock overlooking Sedona town. It is such a beautiful location for a chapel! The chapel is very small perched at the most beautiful part of Sedona...

The view on top of the rock is spectacular so make sure to go over there. There are people praying inside the chapel so make sure to be courteous and not make loud noises...

There is also a small souvenir shop on the second floor of the chapel.

There is parking at the top of the hill which is definitely reserved for people with disability.
Make sure to drive slowly all the way to the top if you can't find parking below.

I'm not a big fan of religion but I do enjoy interesting architecture. The Chapel of the Holy Cross is built right into the Red Rocks of Sedona. When we drove up to the shapel I was really amzed and it was not what I was expecting at all. The Chapel seems to grown out of the rocks instead of being built. The desert views from the chapel are incredible. The inside of the chapel is rather simple yet striking. I can understand why the chapel is such a draw for visitors with it's beauty and calming simplicity.

The chapel was built in April 1956 by Marguerite Brunswig Staude (who happened to be a student of one of my favorite architects, Frank Lloyd Wright).

Daily 9am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

There is a gift shop on site that carries religious goods.