Holy Cross Monastery (West Park, New York)

Infobox nrhp
name = Holy Cross Monastery
nrhp_type =


caption = Rear of monastery from parking lot in 2007
location = West Park, NY
nearest_city = Poughkeepsie
lat_degrees = 41
lat_minutes = 48
lat_seconds = 11
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 73
long_minutes = 57
long_seconds = 26
long_direction = W
area = 26 acres (10 ha)cite web|title=Holy Cross Monastery — West Park|url=http://www.holycrossmonastery.com/OHC/Vocation/WestPark.htm|accessdate=2007-12-11]
built = 1904
architect = Ralph Adams Cram, Henry Vaughan
architecture = Mission/Spanish Revival, Tudor Revival
added = 1995
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
refnum = 95000045
mpsub =
governing_body = Order of the Holy Cross

Holy Cross Monastery is located on US 9W in West Park, New York, USA. It is the mother house of the Order of the Holy Cross, an Anglican Benedictine order.

The building, designed in a combination of Mission/Spanish Revival and Tudorbethan styles by architects Ralph Adams Cram and Henry Vaughan, both known for their religious buildings, began construction in 1902 and was dedicated two years later. It sits on a 26-acre (10 ha) site overlooking the Hudson River and the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, just across from it in Hyde Park. It dominates the view westward from the mansion grounds.

In addition to the motherhouse, facilities include two guesthouses, the Monastic Church of St. Augustine, and the Monastic Enclosure.cite web|title=About Holy Cross Monastery|url=http://www.holycrossmonastery.com/AboutUs.htm|accessdate=2007-12-11] It is available for individual and group retreats. Madeleine L'Engle, author of "A Wrinkle in Time", ran one in conjunction with a writers' workshop every January for much of her life.cite news|first=Sharon|last=Sheridan|title=A premier storyteller, Madeleine L'Engle inspired community as well as writers|url=http://www.episcopal-life.org/80050_91834_ENG_HTM.htm|publisher="Episcopal Life Online"|date=November 13, 2007|accessdate=2007-12-11.] The monks also sell incense, perfume and operate the Monk's Cell, a book and gift shop on the property.cite web|title=Monk's Cell Books & Gifts|url=http://www.holycrossmonastery.com/Enterprise/MonksCell.htm|accessdate=2007-12-11] In keeping with the order's devotion to progressive social causes, they have been keeping a peace vigil on Saturdays during the Iraq War.cite web|title=Holy Cross Monastery|url=http://www.holycrossmonastery.com/index.htm|accessdate=2007-12-11]

It was the first house established in the order by its founder, The Rev. James Otis Sargent Huntington, 20 years after he founded it, after interim homes in New York City and Maryland. He is buried in the church on the grounds. Today it serves as the order's house of formation, where new initiates begin their training. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.

References

External links

* [http://www.holycrossmonastery.com/ Monastery website]