Date: August 20, 2025
The work of chronicling the story of our chapel is unfinished business—one that calls for the combined commitment of those who lived its creation firsthand. It is both a privilege and a responsibility to join my esteemed recently retired colleagues, Ms. Linda Dienno and the Rev. Dr. Barney Hawkins, to bring our long-contemplated book project to completion. Since our momentous consecration of the chapel in 2015, we have carried the collective memory of its planning, construction, and dedication—a memory that, unless carefully recorded, risks fading as time moves on.
This chapel is far more than brick and mortar; it is a testament to the vision and craftsmanship of countless artisans and skilled professionals whose talents gave rise to the extraordinary sacred space we now cherish. Their contributions, layered throughout every detail, deserve to be honored in full. Among the stories in urgent need of preservation is that of the magnificent oak trees that once graced the land and, by the wisdom and insistence of our Board of Trustees, were transformed into the very organ case that anchors our music and worship. Such significant truths, if left undocumented, can too easily be lost to the slow erosion of memory and history.
Finishing this book is not just about documenting a building—it is about ensuring that the heritage, artistry, and collective resolve that shaped our chapel remain permanently etched in our institutional memory. To advance this essential task, I will be away Wednesday and Thursday, working closely with Linda and Barney to bring our shared vision for this book to fruition. The effort to capture these stories now will ensure they inspire and guide generations yet to come.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and the President of The General Theological Seminary.