Bryn Athyn College: A Unique Blend of Liberal Arts and New Church Principles
Bryn Athyn College is a private Christian college located in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, United States. It stands out due to its affiliation with the New Church, a branch of Christianity rooted in the Bible and the theological works of Emanuel Swedenborg. The college emphasizes the practical application of truth to life, encouraging students to connect their spiritual beliefs to their studies and daily experiences.
Historical Overview
Bryn Athyn College's history began with its incorporation as the Academy of the New Church in 1877, under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Initially, it functioned as a high school and a two-year college. In 1890, the Academy established a separate organization, the General Church of the New Jerusalem, a religious body based on the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg. The institution expanded significantly at the turn of the 20th century, relocating to Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, thanks to funding from John Pitcairn, the founder of PPG Industries.
Financial support from John Pitcairn and others allowed the Academy of the New Church to grow from a seminary into a high school and a two-year college. By 1914, it evolved into a four-year college, and by 1922, it conferred Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. In 1997, the institution adopted its current name, Bryn Athyn College of the New Church. As of fall 2021, the college had an undergraduate enrollment of 244 students and operated on a trimester-based academic calendar.
Campus and Surroundings
The original campus and surrounding community of Bryn Athyn were designed in 1893 by Charles Eliot of the firm Olmsted, Olmsted, and Eliot. The campus, located in the borough of Bryn Athyn, in the suburbs of Philadelphia, covers 130 acres of undeveloped open land. The nearby Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust supplements the natural surroundings with eight miles of trails following a creek through woods and fields.
Several notable structures contribute to the unique character of the Bryn Athyn landscape:
Read also: Academic Excellence: Bryn Mawr
- Bryn Athyn Cathedral: The center of the New Church community and a religious hub for Bryn Athyn College students. Construction on this Gothic revivalist architecture commenced in 1913 and continued until 1928, with work on the stained glass windows and interior decoration stretching into the early 1940s and beyond. Uniquely, the cathedral contains no right angles or straight lines.
- Cairnwood: Designed by Carrère and Hastings, this building was completed in 1895. It served as the home of John Pitcairn, founder of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, and his wife Gertrude until 1916, after which it stood vacant for several years.
- Glencairn Museum: Built between 1928 and 1939 as a home for Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn. The museum's ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, medieval Christian, Islamic, Asian, and Native American collections help to inform visitors on the history of religion.
In August 2008, the college opened several new student residence cottages, reflecting ongoing development and adaptation to the needs of today’s students. In September 2009, a new science center and a new admissions and student life building were completed.
Academics and Programs
In the academic year 2020-21, the college had 272 students studying across 12 undergraduate programs. Bryn Athyn College offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences. These programs are designed to challenge students to develop a spiritual purpose, think critically from various perspectives, and build both intellectual and practical skills.
The college offers an associate degree in liberal arts, which allows students to delve into a variety of emphasis areas. These areas include arts, biology, business, education, English literature, history, language, mathematical sciences, philosophy, psychology, religion, and social science. In addition to this, Bryn Athyn College of the New Church also provides baccalaureate degrees. These degrees have general graduation requirements that include double majors and an accelerated degree program. The college also offers a second baccalaureate degree program.
- English Major: Emphasizes clarity of expression and idea development.
- Interdisciplinary Major: Allows students to blend elements of different majors.
- Religion Major: Focuses on biblical studies.
The college also houses a Theological School, specializing in New Church theology. The school's mission is to prepare men for the priesthood of the New Church, with a primary focus on training men to serve as pastors in the General Church of the New Jerusalem. The Theological School has been accredited by the Middle States Association since 1952.
Mission and Vision
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church's Mission Statement notes that, "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 Testaments and the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg."
Read also: Athletics at Bryn Athyn College
The college's educational philosophy is grounded in the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg and the benefits of a liberal arts program. The college's mission is multifaceted, focusing on enhancing the civil, moral, and spiritual aspects of students' lives, while also contributing to the spiritual welfare of humanity. The ultimate objective of the college is to challenge students to develop a spiritual purpose, to think critically and broadly from various perspectives, and to cultivate intellectual and practical skills.
The vision of Bryn Athyn College of the New Church is to offer purposeful, student-centered programs and services that are guided by New Church principles. These programs aim to enrich the physical, social, mental, and spiritual lives of students. The college offers religious courses and a religion major, along with worship services. The education at Bryn Athyn emphasizes the practical application of truth to life, encouraging students to connect their spiritual beliefs to their studies and daily lives.
The college's student conduct policies are guided by moral principles, with a strong emphasis on honesty, respect, charity, and living a life of useful service.
Accreditation and Standards
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church holds regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. This accreditation is a significant factor for students who might be considering transferring their credits to another institution or pursuing a post-graduate program. The Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation also recognize the college.
The faculty at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church bear the primary responsibility for teaching, scholarship, and service. The college's religious perspective is rooted in New Church theology, a form of Christianity based on the teachings of the Bible and the theological writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. The college places emphasis on practical skills such as writing, quantitative reasoning, public presentation, and experiential education. It also values the liberal arts principles of critical thinking, interdisciplinary connections, and spiritual inquiry.
Read also: Scholarships for Bryn Mawr Students
The Board of Trustees has entrusted the faculty, through the Faculty Council, with the lead responsibility for curriculum design and review, instructional methods, standards and procedures for evaluating teaching, scholarship, and service, and those aspects of student life that are related to the educational process.
Student Life
Bryn Athyn student life is largely student-run. The student body at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church is diverse, with nearly 250 students from 14 states and over 15 foreign countries. The college emphasizes the importance of an academic education that teaches students quantitative reasoning, writing skills, and critical thinking.
The college's facilities, which include a performing arts center, a fine arts center, an ice-rink, pavilion, café and social center, and historic buildings, are located in the borough of Bryn Athyn, in the suburbs of Philadelphia. The campus spans 130 acres, much of which is undeveloped open land.
Athletics (Past)
The Bryn Athyn athletic teams were called the Lions. The college was a member of the Division III ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); primarily competing as a member of the United East Conference (UEC) from 2023-24 until the end of the 2024-25 academic year. The Lions previously competed as a member of the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) from 2018-19 to 2022-23, as well as having a stint in the UEC from 2014-15 to 2017-18, back when the conference was known as the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC), and as an NCAA Division III Independent during the 2013-14 school year under an exploratory basis.
Bryn Athyn competed in 11 intercollegiate sports teams. Men's sports included basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer and volleyball; while women's sports included basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, tennis and volleyball.
On March 26, 2025, Bryn Athyn announced that they would be eliminating all 11 of its NCAA sports teams and its club hockey team due to the school's financial instability.
Emanuel Swedenborg and the New Church
Emanuel Swedenborg was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on January 29, 1688. He was one of the leading scientists in many countries throughout Western Europe and a participant in the Swedish government. His interests ranged from philosophy and theology to anatomy and physiology. Around 1743, Swedenborg’s writing focused on theology.
The college's religious perspective is rooted in New Church theology, a form of Christianity based on the teachings of the Bible and the theological writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. 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. The college's Mission Statement notes that, "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 Testaments and the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg.
tags: #Bryn #Athyn #College #history #and #programs
