IMMANUEL CHURCH-ON-THE-HILL
  • ABOUT US
    • Accessibility and Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Clergy & Staff >
      • The Rev. J. Randolph Alexander, Jr.
      • The Rev. Susan Parsons
      • The Rev. Sarah Spurlock Biggs
      • Dr. Jane Tavernier, D.M.A.
    • Vestry, Administration, Annual Report, Bylaws, and Living Wage Certification >
      • Previous Vestries
      • Annual Report
    • Parish Directory 2025
    • Virginia Theological Seminary
    • Valley Drive Cooperative Preschool
    • Scouts BSA Troop 131
    • Annual Pumpkin Patch for Charity
    • History >
      • 75th Anniversary
      • Coronavirus Response >
        • Community Reflections on the Pandemic
  • WORSHIP
    • Lectionary
    • Sermons
    • Worship service bulletins >
      • Service Bulletin Archive
    • Funerals, Committals, Memorials and Funds >
      • Cynthia Dolvin Funeral 5-31-2025
      • Walk to Zabriskie Memorial Garden
      • Memorial Garden at Zabriskie Chapel
      • Mike N. Williams Memorial
    • WEDDINGS
    • Music at Immanuel
    • Lectors
  • GIVE
    • Easter Appeal 2025
    • 2025 Every Member Pledge
    • 2025 Online Pledge Card
    • FAQs & Proportional Giving Chart
    • 2025 Downloadable Pledge Card
    • Stewardship Minutes 2025 Campaign
    • Ways to Give
    • Online Giving >
      • Legacy Online Giving
    • Altar Flower&Music Dedications
    • Practical Matters & Faithful Giving
    • Tax Questions
    • Planned Giving
    • Trust Funds
    • Amazon Associates
    • Tithe.ly
  • SERVE
    • Outreach
    • Pastoral Care
    • Creation Care Ministry >
      • The Climate Crisis: Here's How YOU Can Help
      • Celebrating Trees
      • Immanuel's Solar Project >
        • Blessing of the Solar Panels
        • Solar Panel Project Updates
      • Water/Weed Volunteer
    • Senior Adult Ministry and Fellowship
    • Social Justice Ministry
  • LEARN
    • Children, Youth, and Families
    • PYM & Shrine Mont Camps
    • Adult Education >
      • Breakfast Bible Study 2025
      • Report on Retreat Survey
      • 2024 Fall Retreat
      • Forum Hour Videos
    • Benedictine Community
    • Lay Committee for Seminarians
  • CALENDAR
  • Simple Gifts Newsletter
    • Simple Gifts Archive
  • Episcopal News Service
  • Subscribe

History

Founding
Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill was established in 1941 by the Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS).  The Very Rev. Alexander C. Zabriskie, then Dean of VTS, served as the first rector.  The Rev. Robert F. Gibson, Professor of Church History (and later Bishop of Virginia) served as Priest-in-Charge.  Services were held in the historic Immanuel Chapel on the seminary campus.

In 1946, the Seminary gave a parcel of land to the parish for the purpose of building a rectory and a parish hall, which were completed in 1948.  In 1958, a smaller chapel, named in honor of Dean Zabriskie, was dedicated at this site to accommodate a 9:00 a.m. Sunday service.

The Zabriskie chapel and parish hall were renovated in 1992, and a new Mander organ was installed in June, 1994.

​Fire
From 1948 to 2010, Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill conducted services in both the Immanuel Chapel and the Zabriskie Chapel.  Immanual Chapel was destroyed by fire on Oct. 22, 2010.  Upon completion of the new Immanuel Chapel in 2015, services are once again being held both in Zabriskie Chapel and on the VTS campus.

Bylaws
The parish bylaws were approved by the Vestry on August 14, 2018.   

Click here to read and/or download the parish bylaws.

The need to adopt parish by-laws arose when Immanuel attempted to get circuit court approval to replace the trustees for parish property.  The court would not approve new trustees without a copy of the parish by-laws.  The Vestry created a by-laws committee ably led by Sara Fein. The members included the Rev. Randy Alexander, Candy Levin, Ken McDonald, Doug Onley, and Jim Snow. The committee identified canonical and diocesan requirements for member parishes, reviewed by-laws of other parishes, drafted proposed by-laws, and edited the draft for consistency and clarity.  The by-laws are designed to be useful governing guidance to the Parish, the Vestry and executive committee.  They can be amended by a super-majority vote of the Vestry. 

immanuel's 75th Anniversary
CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE
Statement on Racial Justice
Response to January 6 Capitol Attack
Further reading:
John O. Walker, Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill: Origin and Early Years -- 1936-48 (1966)
origin_and_early_years_icoh.pdf
File Size: 9134 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Duncan B. MacDonald, ​Immanuel: In Interesting Times (2d ed. 1995)
immanuel_in_interesting_times.pdf
File Size: 35935 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

"All About Zabriskie: Who Was He and Why Is Our Chapel Named for Him", Did You Know column, The Almond Tree Quarterly Magazine: The Final Issue Spring 2023, pg. 6
Parish Banners
The banner of Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill was approved by the Vestry in June 2013. 

It features elements that represent the history of Immanuel, as well as our commitment to outreach and mission:
  • The star immediately below the words "Immanuel Church on-the-Hill":  Immanuel - a sign that foretells "God is with us". 
  • The Jerusalem Crosslet:  a recognized symbol of mission with Christianity spreading in all four directions.
  • The seven pumpkins:  a symbol of our commitment to community and outreach.
  • The logo of Virginia Theological Seminary (representing Aspinwall Hall):  recognition of our founding by -- and deep connection to -- the Virginia Theological Seminary.
The banner design was developed by Wipple & Co., providers of church furnishings since 1789, based on initial concepts of parishioner Linda Serabian and Interim Rector the Rev. Canon Mary Sulerud.
A second banner, donated by a parishioner, carries the seal of Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill. 
This banner was designed and produced by Trevor Floyd and Company for Immanuel.
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Immanuel Crosses
The beautiful nine-foot cross that graces our services in Immanuel Chapel, and the scaled-down matching cross that crowns the sanctuary at Zabriskie Chapel, were gifts from a parish family, and the result of thoughtful design work by Immanuel parishioner and architect Tom Kerns.

​The crosses are made from wood salvaged from the old Immanuel Chapel at the Seminary following the 2010 fire. Indeed, one can see burn marks upon close inspection of the wood.
​Parish Seal
The  Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill Parish Seal was approved by the 2014 Vestry on January 27, 2015.

​The Vesica (the overall shape of the seal, on which the name of the organization, location, and date are shown) is oval, which by tradition indicates a church. The Canterbury Crosses at top and bottom of the Vesica link our church to the Episcopal Church of the United States and to the global community of the Anglican Communion.

The Shield is the lower portion of the seal. This Shield simply but boldly represents key elements of the identity of our church.  It reflects the blue of our church banner, with the Holy Hill of Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) in green and Immanuel’s Celtic processional cross high on the hill.  The Bethlehem (Immanuel) star, also from the church banner, is shown in the sky.  Use of a cross on the shield echoes the Calvary Cross on the VTS seal.

The Crest is the upper portion which sits on top of the shield. Immanuel's Crest depicts the Book of Scripture, with the words “God with us,” as a translation of “Immanuel” as well as a statement of God being with us in all our activities. The lettering of “God with us” is based on hand written script used by Celtic monks. Behind the book are pumpkins and pumpkin blossom vines to reflect our church’s fundraiser and strong commitment to Outreach.   The book sits on a stylized wreath of gold and green, pulling the Holy Hill color and the gold metal color from the Shield.

​The shield was designed by heraldic artist George Cannizzaro, of Cardinal Custom Heraldry, in consultation with Rector Randy Alexander and the Parish Seal committee (Wardens Hance Haney and Sara Fein, the Rev. David Crosby, Dr. Elaine Davies, Tom Kerns, and Kerry Kelly).  Mr. Cannizzaro presented the seal and explained it to the parish at a Forum Hour on February 8, 2015.
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Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill

Episcopal/Anglican

ZABRISKIE CHAPEL
3606 Seminary Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22304
(703) 370-6555
​[email protected]


IMMANUEL CHAPEL
3737 Seminary Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22304
To download the map at bottom right, please click on
MAP of VTS
.

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  • ABOUT US
    • Accessibility and Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Clergy & Staff >
      • The Rev. J. Randolph Alexander, Jr.
      • The Rev. Susan Parsons
      • The Rev. Sarah Spurlock Biggs
      • Dr. Jane Tavernier, D.M.A.
    • Vestry, Administration, Annual Report, Bylaws, and Living Wage Certification >
      • Previous Vestries
      • Annual Report
    • Parish Directory 2025
    • Virginia Theological Seminary
    • Valley Drive Cooperative Preschool
    • Scouts BSA Troop 131
    • Annual Pumpkin Patch for Charity
    • History >
      • 75th Anniversary
      • Coronavirus Response >
        • Community Reflections on the Pandemic
  • WORSHIP
    • Lectionary
    • Sermons
    • Worship service bulletins >
      • Service Bulletin Archive
    • Funerals, Committals, Memorials and Funds >
      • Cynthia Dolvin Funeral 5-31-2025
      • Walk to Zabriskie Memorial Garden
      • Memorial Garden at Zabriskie Chapel
      • Mike N. Williams Memorial
    • WEDDINGS
    • Music at Immanuel
    • Lectors
  • GIVE
    • Easter Appeal 2025
    • 2025 Every Member Pledge
    • 2025 Online Pledge Card
    • FAQs & Proportional Giving Chart
    • 2025 Downloadable Pledge Card
    • Stewardship Minutes 2025 Campaign
    • Ways to Give
    • Online Giving >
      • Legacy Online Giving
    • Altar Flower&Music Dedications
    • Practical Matters & Faithful Giving
    • Tax Questions
    • Planned Giving
    • Trust Funds
    • Amazon Associates
    • Tithe.ly
  • SERVE
    • Outreach
    • Pastoral Care
    • Creation Care Ministry >
      • The Climate Crisis: Here's How YOU Can Help
      • Celebrating Trees
      • Immanuel's Solar Project >
        • Blessing of the Solar Panels
        • Solar Panel Project Updates
      • Water/Weed Volunteer
    • Senior Adult Ministry and Fellowship
    • Social Justice Ministry
  • LEARN
    • Children, Youth, and Families
    • PYM & Shrine Mont Camps
    • Adult Education >
      • Breakfast Bible Study 2025
      • Report on Retreat Survey
      • 2024 Fall Retreat
      • Forum Hour Videos
    • Benedictine Community
    • Lay Committee for Seminarians
  • CALENDAR
  • Simple Gifts Newsletter
    • Simple Gifts Archive
  • Episcopal News Service
  • Subscribe