Town
Bryn Athyn is home to the Bryn Athyn Historic District - a National
Historic Landmark District.
The
Bryn Athyn Cathedral (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Church) was
constructed from 1913-1919. The Cathedral's initial design was by the Boston
architecture firm of Ralph Adams Cram. The
planning of the Cathedral began under the direction of William Fredrick
Pendleton, the Bishop of the Church, and John Pitcairn, president of the Pittsburgh
Plate Glass Company (now PPG Industries), who was the major
benefactor donating the property and much of the funds to construct the
cathedral.Raymond Pitcairn, John Pitcairn's son, became involved with the project and worked with the firm of Ralph Adams Cram. Some very unorthodox building practices were used during the construction. For example, rather than relying on blueprints and plans, almost every aspect of the design was made into scale models where Mr. Pitcairn and the workers could study, review and embellish their ideas before actually constructing them.
Another aspect of the cathedral which is unusual is that asymmetries and irregularities were planned into the building as it was built.
The Stained Glass windows of Bryn Athyn Cathedral are absolutely unique. The medieval method of creating stained glass was revived in order to create them. The first glass was blown in 1922 and the last was done in the 1940s, however all the windows themselves were not completed till the 1960s.
The Cathedral is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00AM-4PM and Sunday from 1:00PM-4:00PM. Tour guides available seven days a week from 1:00PM-4:00PM.
The
grounds are open seven days a week during daylight hours, except during
worship services and special events, when they are closed to visitors. Please
check Church calendar or call (267-502-4600) ahead to confirm that the
Cathedral Grounds are open.
Overall,
the guides are friendly and can answer any questions about these beautiful
surroundings. The gardens are stunning. A must see!
Right
next to the Cathedral is the Academy-affiliated Glencairn Museum. Originally the private
residence of Raymond Pitcairn, this castle-like building now houses a
collection of mostly religious artwork from around the world and is open to the
public.
Glencairn
has several interesting collections but the most impressive is the largest
collection of medieval stained glass in private hands. It is all very well
displayed in back-lit cabinets with ample opportunities to get up-close. The
house itself is very imposing and embodies all the principles of the Arts and
Crafts Movement.
Guided
historic tours are offered daily at 11 am or by appointment. Visits
require a guide. Self-guided tours are not available.
