Virginia Episcopal School: Our history

Our history

By design, VES is a small and intimate academic community of 268 students and 40 residential faculty. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, our 160-acre campus is nestled near the James River along the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We are a school that emphasizes rigorous academic training and vigorous individual attention in a spiritual and ethical environment.

The school's founder, Robert Carter Jett, laid the foundation for this mission in September of 1916, when VES opened its doors and Dr. Jett's dream of establishing "a school that will draw out that which is noblest and finest" became a reality. Although VES has evolved through the years, Dr. Jett's words still ring true today. His vision and dreams remain the cornerstone of Virginia Episcopal School.

Dr. Jett conceived the first buildings on the VES campus while riding a train in Raleigh, North Carolina. There, he drew his architectural view of the campus on the back of an envelope. You might recognize the outline of his drawings in the framework of Main Hall, which opened in September of 1916. Three years later, the chapel opened, thanks to a generous donation by Chiswell Dabney Langhorne, followed by the "Little Gym" in the 1930s, which is rumored to be based on the measurements of King Solomon's temple in Jerusalem.

Today, our campus includes three gymnasiums, classroom buildings, residence halls, an art center, and some of the nation's finest equestrian facilities. Our student body has grown from 60 boys to 268 young men and women who come from all over the country and the world. And each day, we live out the vision of Dr. Jett -- constantly striving, constantly growing, but in a comfortable, supportive environment that is in so many ways like a home.



About VES - History - Job Opportunities - Strategic Plan - Visit VES Admissions Academics Campus life Athletics College counseling Technology Faculty & staff Bookstore Alumni Making a Gift		Our history By design, VES is a small and intimate academic community of 268 students and 40 residential faculty. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, our 160-acre campus is nestled near the James River along the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We are a school that emphasizes rigorous academic training and vigorous individual attention in a spiritual and ethical environment. The school's founder, Robert Carter Jett, laid the foundation for this mission in September of 1916, when VES opened its doors and Dr. Jett's dream of establishing "a school that will draw out that which is noblest and finest" became a reality. Although VES has evolved through the years, Dr. Jett's words still ring true today. His vision and dreams remain the cornerstone of Virginia Episcopal School. Dr. Jett conceived the first buildings on the VES campus while riding a train in Raleigh, North Carolina. There, he drew his architectural view of the campus on the back of an envelope. You might recognize the outline of his drawings in the framework of Main Hall, which opened in September of 1916. Three years later, the chapel opened, thanks to a generous donation by Chiswell Dabney Langhorne, followed by the "Little Gym" in the 1930s, which is rumored to be based on the measurements of King Solomon's temple in Jerusalem. Today, our campus includes three gymnasiums, classroom buildings, residence halls, an art center, and some of the nation's finest equestrian facilities. Our student body has grown from 60 boys to 268 young men and women who come from all over the country and the world. And each day, we live out the vision of Dr. Jett -- constantly striving, constantly growing, but in a comfortable, supportive environment that is in so many ways like a home.
Virginia Episcopal School 400 VES Road Lynchburg, VA 24503 Main: 434.385.3600 Admissions: 434.385.3607 Email: admissions@ves.org		About VES \| Admissions \| Academics \| Campus life \| Athletics \| College counseling Technology \| Faculty & staff \| Bookstore \| Alumni \| Making a Gift Home \| News \| Contact Us \| Calendar \| Site map Comments