Bryn Athyn College is a private Christian college in

Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania Bryn Athyn is a home rule municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It was formerly a borough, and its official name remains "Borough of Bryn Athyn". The population was 1,375 at the 2010 census. It was formed for religious reasons fro ...

. It is affiliated with the

General Church of the New Jerusalem The General Church of the New Jerusalem (also referred to as the ''General Church'' or just simply the '' New Church'') is an international church based in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, and based on the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the theo ...

History

Bryn Athyn College started educating undergraduates after its incorporation under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1877. Then known as the Academy of the New Church, in 1890, the academy established a separate organization, the

, a religious body based on the teachings of

Emanuel Swedenborg Emanuel Swedenborg (, ; born Emanuel Swedberg; 29 March 1772) was a Swedish pluralistic-Christian theologian, scientist, philosopher and mystic. He became best known for his book on the afterlife, ''Heaven and Hell'' (1758). Swedenborg had a ...

. After receiving an endowment from

John Pitcairn Major John Pitcairn (28 December 1722 – 17 June 1775) was a Marine Service officer who was stationed in Boston, Massachusetts, at the start of the American War of Independence. Born in Scotland in 1722, Pitcairn joined the Naval Service at ...

and others, the Academy of the New Church expanded from a seminary into a high school and a two-year college. In 1914, it became a four-year college, and by 1922, the college was also conferring Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. In 1997, the Academy of the New Church College adopted a new name: Bryn Athyn College of the New Church. In August 2008, the college opened several new student residence cottages. A new science center and a new admissions and student life building were completed in September 2009.

Campus

The college's original campus and surrounding community of Bryn Athyn were designed in 1893 by Charles Eliot of the firm

Olmsted, Olmsted and Eliot The Olmsted Brothers company was a landscape architectural firm in the United States, established in 1898 by brothers John Charles Olmsted (1852–1920) and Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. (1870–1957), sons of the landscape architect Frederick Law ...

. The campus is located in the borough of Bryn Athyn, in the suburbs of

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...

. Much of the college's campus is undeveloped open land, and the nearby Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust supplements the natural surroundings with of trails following a creek through woods and fields.

Facilities

*Pendleton Hall (Classrooms, Main College Office, Offices, Auditorium) *Swedenborg Library (Library, Archives, Computer Lab) *

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Field House (Athletic Facility) *Mitchell Performing Arts Center (Theater) *Fine Arts Center (Fine Arts Facilities, Classrooms) *Dining Hall *Childs Hall (Housing) *Grant Hall (Housing) *Residence Cottages (Housing) *College Grounds Café *Grant R. Doering Center for Science and Research (Completed Fall 2009) *Brickman Center for Student Life and Admissions (Completed Fall 2009) *Jungé Ice Rink and Pavilion (Athletic/Recreational Facility) *Social Center *

Glencairn Museum Glencairn is a castle-like mansion in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, that was home to the Pitcairn family for more than 40 years. Now the Glencairn Museum, it contains a collection of about 8,000 artworks, mostly religious in nature, from cultures s ...

Bryn Athyn Cathedral Bryn Athyn Cathedral is the episcopal seat of the General Church of the New Jerusalem, a denomination of Swedenborgianism. The main building is of the Early Gothic style, while the adjoining structures are of a transitional period reflective ...

*Cairnwood Estate (Historic Tours and Special Events Facility)

Historic District Buildings

The Bryn Athyn Historic District includes: ;Glencairn Museum

's ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman, medieval Christian, Islamic, Asian, and Native American collections educate visitors on the history of religion. The museum was built between 1928 and 1939 as a home for Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn. In 1979, the building was donated to the Academy of the New Church to serve as the school's museum of medieval and religious art. ;Bryn Athyn Cathedral

is the center of the New Church community and serves as a religious center for Bryn Athyn College students. Construction on the Gothic revivalist architecture began in 1913, and carried on until the late 1920s. In Bryn Athyn Cathedral there are no right angles or straight lines. The walls of the building are skewed against each other, bowing out in the middle only to return at the opposite wall. ;Cairnwood Estate Cairnwood was designed by the architectural firm

Carrère and Hastings Carrère and Hastings, the firm of John Merven Carrère ( ; November 9, 1858 – March 1, 1911) and Thomas Hastings (March 11, 1860 – October 22, 1929), was one of the outstanding American Beaux-Arts architecture firms. Located in New York City ...

and was completed in 1895. It served as the home of

, founder of the

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, and his wife Gertrude until 1916, after which it stood vacant for years. In 1994, the Academy of the New Church renovated the building. Cairnwood now functions as a cultural and hospitality center serving the college, community, and surrounding area.

Religion

Bryn Athyn College is affiliated with

the New Church The New Church (or Swedenborgianism) is any of several historically related Christian denominations that developed as a new religious group, influenced by the writings of scientist and mystic Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772). Swedenborgian or ...

, a branch of Christianity based on the

Bible The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts ...

and the theological writings of

. The college offers religious courses, a religion major, and worship services. Education at Bryn Athyn emphasizes the practical application of truth to life and encourages students to connect their spiritual beliefs to both their studies and their daily lives. Student conduct policies are guided by moral principles, with a particular emphasis on acting honestly, respectfully, and charitably and living a life of useful service. Mission Statement: Bryn Athyn College of the New Church serves as an intellectual center for all who desire to pursue a higher education in the liberal arts and sciences, enriched and structured by the Old and

New Testament The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Chri ...

s and the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. The purpose of this education is to enhance students' civil, moral, and spiritual lives, as well as to contribute to human spiritual welfar

Academics

Bryn Athyn College operates on a trimester system. Fall Term usually begins in late August and continues until Thanksgiving break; Winter Term runs from after Thanksgiving until March (with a break over the Christmas holiday); Spring Term then runs from late March until the end of May. The college's educational philosophy is grounded in the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg and the benefits of a

liberal arts Liberal arts education (from Latin "free" and "art or principled practice") is the traditional academic course in Western higher education. ''Liberal arts'' takes the term '' art'' in the sense of a learned skill rather than specifically th ...

program. The curriculum emphasizes experiential learning.

Athletics

Bryn Athyn College teams participate as a member of the

National Collegiate Athletic Association The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges ...

Division III In sport, the Third Division, also called Division 3, Division Three, or Division III, is often the third-highest division of a league, and will often have promotion and relegation with divisions above and below. Association football *Belgian Thir ...

. The Lions are a member of the

Colonial States Athletic Conference The Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) is an NCAA Division III collegiate athletic conference in the Mid-Atlantic United States. There are currently nine full member institutions as of 2018. The conference's membership, as with most Mid ...

(CSAC) as of the 2018–19 academic year. Prior to the 2014 season, the college competed as a member of the

USCAA The United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) is a national organization for the intercollegiate athletic programs of 72 mostly small colleges, including community/ junior colleges, across the United States. The USCAA holds 15 nationa ...

. Men's sports include basketball, cross country, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer and tennis; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, lacrosse, tennis and volleyball.

Arts

Bryn Athyn College offers both courses and extracurricular arts opportunities in studio arts, theater, and music. Arts courses at Bryn Athyn include drawing and painting, ceramics, metals, photography, and art history.

Student life

Bryn Athyn student life is largely student-run. Student Government and the Social Committee plan regular activities both on and off campus.

References

External links

Official website
{{coord, 40, 08, 05.45, N, 75, 03, 35.80, W, region:US_type:edu, display=title Educational institutions established in 1877 Universities and colleges in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania General Church of the New Jerusalem Private universities and colleges in Pennsylvania 1877 establishments in Pennsylvania Colonial States Athletic Conference schools Former United East Conference schools