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Archbishop of Canterbury and Episcopal Presiding Bishop to Attend Consecration of Immanuel Chapel at Virginia Theological Seminary
October 6, 2015
ALEXANDRIA, VA: Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) announces that the Dedication and Consecration Service of its Immanuel Chapel and a special Choral Evensong will be streamed live on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Streaming for the consecration begins at 10 a.m. and for Choral Evensong at 4 p.m.
The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, will be the celebrant for the consecration. The Most Reverend Justin Welby, the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury, will deliver the sermon during this historic event in the 192nd year in the life of the Seminary.
The ceremony is expected to draw approximately a thousand invited guests to campus including church leaders, alumni, friends, chapel artisans, and builders. The event marks the official completion and blessing of Immanuel Chapel. The Chapel, designed by New York-based Robert A.M. Stern Architects, was built to replace the Seminary's 1881 Chapel that was destroyed by fire in October 2010.
"This is a very exciting time in the life of Virginia Theological Seminary," said the Very Reverend Ian S. Markham, Ph.D., dean and president. "More than a thousand guests will be here to join the trustees, faculty, staff, and students for this historic occasion offered to the Glory of God."
In addition to Jefferts Schori, the Right Reverend Michael Curry, the 27th Presiding Bishop-Elect of the Episcopal Church and presently the Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, will serve as a celebrant.
Later that day a special Choral Evensong Service, with the Archbishop of Canterbury officiating, will take place at 4 p.m. This will include the blessing of the change ringing bells by the Most Reverend Frank T. Griswold III, the 25th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Immediately following, Founder and Senior Partner of Robert A.M. Stern Architects, Mr. Robert A.M. Stern, will address the congregation. These events are the beginning of a year-long Chapel Dedicatory Year celebration.
In order to allow people who are not able to attend Consecration or Evensong to be a part of this historic day, VTS will be streaming these services from its website at http://www.vts.edu.
