Winter 2023 Update

A new timeline has been released! Please see the timeline below for a list of scheduled events. One important thing to note is that the permitting process has begun but we have not gotten any approvals yet. Because we have not gotten permit approvals yet, these dates are still subject to change. Rest assured; everyone is pushing hard to stay on schedule!

The Bryn Athyn Thrift Shop will be temporarily closing its doors on April 1 to prepare for the dismantling of the building on May 8. BATS will remain closed for a few months while the new barn is being built in the field near the intersection of Buck Road and Byberry Road.

To read more about this and past updates, click here. Questions about the school and BATS projects? Click here to explore our Q&A's.

*Timeline is based on obtaining permits and is subject to change.

Our Plan

Our plan is to build vibrant and welcoming spaces for our Elementary School, Church Office, Society Building, and Thrift Shop.

Given the extent of our current facility’s constraints and maintenance issues, our plan is to construct a completely new building on an adjacent site. This plan, affirmed at our October 13 Society meeting, not only solves a myriad of problems but also allows us to continue providing onsite education with minimal disruption for our current students while construction is underway. We are prepared to begin construction as early as Summer 2023.

The new facility will provide separate welcoming entrances for the church and the school. Shared spaces will include a sloped floor auditorium and outdoor gathering areas. Students and visitors will experience new academic and social spaces featured throughout the building. The school wing will house dynamic educational environments for preschool through 8th grade. The church wing will be home to the church office, society kitchen, and a beautiful space for gatherings.

The building committee is fully committed to supporting Bryn Athyn Thrift Shop (BATS) in getting up and running in its new location, incorporating parts of the old barn. The new site will be a fenced in and gated two-acre section of Academy property near Buck and Byberry Roads (across from Pine Run Park). The Academy has given their strong approval to move forward with this project.

An Invitation to Participate

We are extremely grateful for the $84 million in donations and pledges received from key donors and community donors. Your generosity helped us to reach our goal and will allow us to finalize the project debt-free. The success of our shared commitment is a powerful symbol of the strength and passion of our community.

For more than 60 years, Bryn Athyn Church School has been a special and valued center for the life of our community. It is where generations of New Church children have begun their lifelong journey of education. Since 1970, when the Society Building (All Purpose Building) was constructed, this facility has also been an important gathering place for our congregation to come together for informal worship, wedding celebrations, school programs, sporting events, community programs, and more.

Now we are embarking on a comprehensive new building project designed to ensure that Bryn Athyn Church and School will continue to play a vital role in our lives and for generations to come. In bringing our plans to fruition, we seek support from all those who wish to see this center thrive and serve as an educational, spiritual, and natural home for the life of our community.

On behalf of all who will gather, work, learn, play, and worship in these new spaces, we thank you for your contribution to this effort.

Photo renderings created by Metcalfe Architecture and Designs.