Glencairn is a museum of religious art and history. Collections include ancient Egyptian, ancient Greek and Roman, medieval Christian, Islamic, Asian, and American Indian art. Notable is the medieval stained glass and sculpture collection. Also, many locally handcrafted creations in stone, wood, stained glass, and mosaic.
Glencairn (1939) was home to the Pitcairn family for 40 years. Pitcairn designed it as a Romanesque-style “castle” for his collection of medieval objects, purchased as models for building Bryn Athyn Cathedral. Influenced by the American Arts & Crafts Movement, Pitcairn established on-site workshops to produce handcrafted elements for both the Cathedral and Glencairn.
Glencairn is part of Bryn Athyn Historic District, a National Historic Landmark, founded in the late 19th-century by members of the New Church. The District includes two other residences: Cairnwood (a Beaux-Arts mansion) and Cairncrest, plus the renowned Bryn Athyn Cathedral -- all built between 1892 and 1938.