Front gate to Cemetery

Wrought iron cross above the gates of the cemetery at Virginia Theological Seminary. Photographed July 2011.

Brick and wrought iron gates of the cemetery at Virginia Theological Seminary. Photographed July 2011.

"The death of the Rt. Rev. John Johns (1796-1876) provided the catalyst for the establishment of a cemetery at Virginia Seminary. Bishop Johns had enjoyed an intimate relationship with the Seminary as fourth Bishop of Virginia and President of the Seminary's Board of Trustees (1862-1876), as well as neighbor. Near the time of his death on April 6, 1876, and subsequent burial at Alexandria's Ivy Hill Cemetery, members of the Seminary Board of Trustees persuaded the Johns family to agree to his re-interment at the Seminary when a cemetery was established on its grounds.

"On May 14, 1876, the full Board confirmed this action and, by the end of November 1876, the new cemetery had been created and the remains of Johns and those of William Meade, third Bishop of Virginia and one of Virginia Seminary's founders; John Payne, VTS 1836 and first Missionary Bishop to Liberia; and William Sparrow, professor and dean were reburied within."

--Virginia Theological Seminary website (accessed July 2011)

The VTS cemetery is nestled among trees near the top of the sweeping lawn at the intersection of Seminary Road and North Quaker Lane. You will need to cross an expanse of grass to reach its gates. Because of limited parking on these two busy roads, consider parking at Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill at 3606 Seminary Road Alexandria, VA 22304. Cross Seminary Road at the intersection and head northwest--uphill--across the lawn. You will see the brick and wrought iron gates. (There is no easy way to find the cemetery on foot from the VTS parking lot off Seminary Road. The seminary's long driveway off Quaker Lane is farther from the cemetery than the parking lot at Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill.)

Photographed July 2011.