[4][1] The seminary's foundation in 1823 was the result of the efforts of small group, led by William Holland Wilmer, who committed themselves to the task of recruiting and training a new generation of church leaders following the Revolutionary War.

The committee appointed by the Virginia convention changed its mind about the proposed seminary's location and accepted Alexandria after Congressman Hugh Nelson arranged significant funding and Wilmer offered space and a lecture room at St. Paul's Church.

[7] In contrast with General Theological Seminary in New York City, VTS was for much of the 19th century associated with the more low-church or evangelical Episcopalian tradition.

[8] Land provided in 1827 for the construction of a purpose built seminary campus prompted a move to hilltop site two and a half miles west of the growing city of Alexandria.

[9] Aspinwall Hall and adjacent buildings of the period designed by Baltimore architect Norris Starkweather, are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

During the American Civil War from March 1862 to August 1865 the Union Army commandeered the seminary buildings and grounds for use as a military hospital.

[13] Out of its evangelical heritage and its missionary tradition, the seminary emphasizes the life of prayer, worship and community, the ministries of preaching, teaching, pastoral care and social justice.

The seminary seeks to prepare its students as servants of Jesus Christ to equip the people of God for their vocation and ministry in the world.

The seminary maintains that theological education leading to ordination normally requires full-time study and full participation in its common life and worship.

In 1993, the Addison Academic Center opened with classroom space, the Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans Auditorium, the seminary bookstore, and student lounge.

Katharine Jefferts Schori, on October 13, 2015, the sermon at the service of consecration was preached by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

Alumni of VTS have served in prominent lay and ordained leadership roles in the Episcopal Church in the United States.