Glencairn Museum
Encyclopedia
Glencairn Museum, located on 1001 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania
, is a New Church-affiliated museum of religious history on the National Register of Historic Places
. It houses a collection of about 8,000 mostly religious artwork from many cultures as diverse as ancient Egyptian, ancient Greek and Roman, medieval Christian, Islamic, Asian, and Native American. It consists of more than 100 rooms on 11 floors, adjacent to Ralph Adams Cram
's Gothic Revival Bryn Athyn Cathedral
(1913–19).
The castle-like building was the former house of billionaire businessman Raymond Pitcairn (1885–1966) and his wife, Mildred Glenn (died 1979). The name of the museum is a combined form of Raymond's last name and Mildred's maiden name. Pitcairn, a member of the New Church himself, had no formal training in architecture and built it in the Romanesque
style between 1928 and 1939. After Mildred's death in 1979 (Raymond had previously died in 1966) the house, with its collections and Pitcairn archives was given to the Academy of the New Church.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1978 and is a contributing property of the Bryn Athyn Historic District
(a National Historic Landmark District).
.
Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania
Bryn Athyn 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 population was 1,375 at the 2010 census...
, is a New Church-affiliated museum of religious history on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. It houses a collection of about 8,000 mostly religious artwork from many cultures as diverse as ancient Egyptian, ancient Greek and Roman, medieval Christian, Islamic, Asian, and Native American. It consists of more than 100 rooms on 11 floors, adjacent to Ralph Adams Cram
Ralph Adams Cram
Ralph Adams Cram FAIA, , was a prolific and influential American architect of collegiate and ecclesiastical buildings, often in the Gothic style. Cram & Ferguson and Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson are partnerships in which he worked.-Early life:Cram was born on December 16, 1863 at Hampton Falls, New...
's Gothic Revival Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Bryn Athyn Cathedral is the episcopal seat of The General Church of the New Jerusalem, a denomination of "The New Church." The main building is of the Early Gothic style, while the adjoining structures are of a transitional period reflective of a combination of both Gothic and Norman styles...
(1913–19).
The castle-like building was the former house of billionaire businessman Raymond Pitcairn (1885–1966) and his wife, Mildred Glenn (died 1979). The name of the museum is a combined form of Raymond's last name and Mildred's maiden name. Pitcairn, a member of the New Church himself, had no formal training in architecture and built it in the Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
style between 1928 and 1939. After Mildred's death in 1979 (Raymond had previously died in 1966) the house, with its collections and Pitcairn archives was given to the Academy of the New Church.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1978 and is a contributing property of the Bryn Athyn Historic District
Bryn Athyn Historic District
The Bryn Athyn Historic District is a National Historic Landmark District in Bryn Athyn, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2008.-Contributing properties:The district comprises four contributing properties:...
(a National Historic Landmark District).
Collections
The museum displays a replica of the Biblical tabernacleReplicas of the Jewish Temple
Replicas of the Jewish Temple are scale models or authentic buildings that attempt to replicate the Temple of Solomon, Second Temple and Herod's Temple in Jerusalem.-Scale models:...
.