Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania

Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania is a home rule municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was formerly a borough, and its official name remains "Borough of Bryn Athyn". The borough is home to the Bryn Athyn Cathedral, Glencairn Museum, and the Academy of the New Church.

History

Bryn Athyn was established as a religious community in the late 19th century by members of the New Church, a branch of Christianity that follows the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg. The name "Bryn Athyn", Welsh for "Hill of Unity", was chosen to reflect the community's spiritual values.

Geography

Bryn Athyn is located at 40°8′22″N 75°3′52″W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, the borough was 92.5% White, 2.4% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.1% Asian, and 1.2% were two or more races. 1.9% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.

Education

Bryn Athyn is home to the Academy of the New Church, a coeducational secondary school, and Bryn Athyn College, a liberal arts college founded by the New Church. The community is also home to several New Church-affiliated institutions, including the General Church of the New Jerusalem and the Swedenborg Foundation.

Landmarks

The most notable landmarks in Bryn Athyn are the Bryn Athyn Cathedral and the Glencairn Museum. The Cathedral, built in the early 20th century, is a Gothic and Romanesque-style structure that serves as the episcopal seat of the General Church of the New Jerusalem. The Glencairn Museum, formerly the home of Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn, houses a collection of religious art and artifacts from various cultures and time periods.

Notable people

Several notable individuals have hailed from Bryn Athyn, including Raymond Pitcairn, a lawyer and philanthropist who oversaw the construction of the Bryn Athyn Cathedral, and his son, Harold Pitcairn, an aviation pioneer and the founder of the Pitcairn Aircraft Company.

See also

• List of municipalities in Pennsylvania
• Montgomery County, Pennsylvania