Chapel of the Holy Cross

Built into Sedona’s red rocks, the Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel and a quiet place to pause above the valley. Its modern design sits between the rock formations, with a large cross on the facade and a window behind the altar framing the landscape. Step inside to look at the chapel’s artwork, sit for a moment of prayer or reflection, and take in views of the red-rock landmarks. The approach involves a walk uphill, though golf-cart rides can help with the slope.

A chapel shaped by its setting

The Chapel of the Holy Cross was completed in 1956 and commissioned by sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude. Its location among Sedona’s red-rock formations was part of the design: the building rises from the rock rather than sitting apart from it. Staude was a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the chapel’s strong geometric forms give it a modern character.

The project grew from Staude’s interest in the Empire State Building. An early plan to build a church in Budapest with Lloyd Wright, Frank Lloyd Wright’s son, could not go ahead after the outbreak of the Second World War. Staude redirected the idea to Sedona. The resulting chapel became a work of both religious architecture and sculpture, set into the area’s stone formations.

The cross and the view from inside

A large cross is integrated into the chapel’s facade and is visible as you approach. Inside, the main window behind the altar opens the view toward the landscape. The red rocks remain part of the experience from the pews, so take a moment to look both at the architecture and beyond it.

The chapel is small, with seating for around 30 people. Artwork is displayed inside, and the space is used for prayer and quiet reflection. Candles can be lit when available. The chapel belongs to the Roman Catholic Church, so visitors should treat it as a place of worship even when arriving primarily to see the building or the view.