Virginia Theological Seminary Immanuel Chapel

Founded in 1823, Virginia Theological Seminary is the largest of the 11 accredited seminaries of the Episcopal Church. The new Immanuel Chapel replaces the historic chapel, consecrated in 1881, which served the Seminary until it was destroyed by fire in 2010. The new chapel, designed to complement the Seminary’s collection of historic buildings, reflects the restrained Virginia traditions of the campus’s earliest buildings and provides a quiet and timeless place for contemplation.

Arched windows in the gable-ends of each transept bathe the main sanctuary with diffuse natural light and are supplemented by a large chandelier. The chapel is a flexible worship space, one that serves as an understated backdrop to a range of liturgical purposes from large-scale celebrations to intimate services, all supporting the Seminary’s educational mission.