Academy Journal Volume 54 | Page 90

the academy journal a larger scene for a New Church teacher, used at first in a school setting, later coming to Glencairn. In 2012, Mary Sandstrom Cooper created a similar scene on a slightly smaller scale and donated it to the Museum. It’s easy to see that these delightful nativities are related. All told, Bernice and Mary have created hundreds of representations for homes in several countries, as well as for schools and at least one church, the New Church in Mitchellville, Maryland. It is significant that the majority of the nativities on display this year were gifts from our generous friends, Alan and Mary Liz Pomeroy, collected over many years from around the world as they traveled for Alan’s work. Once again, Kathleen Glenn Pitcairn created unique settings for almost all the sets, adding immeasurably to their appreciation, a deeply appreciated gift of time and talent. Christmas in the Castle, Glencairn’s first Christmas tour, gave about 600 participants the chance to learn how the Pitcairn family celebrated Christmas when Glencairn was their home and explore works of art in the Museum’s collections depicting the Nativity. Carefully researched displays were mounted along the tour route and the tour itself was scripted. Our esteemed interpreters mastered the content before leading their first tour group. In exit surveys, we received many affirmative comments about this tour including these four: “The tour put me in the mood to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas,” and, “Nice combo of religious art & family love. Seeing Mildred’s dress warmed my heart,” then, “I continue to be impressed by the people and community of Bryn Athyn. Our tour guide was phenomenal,” and finally, “Everything is so beautifully done… It’s a great way to learn so much and to kick off the holiday Season! Can’t wait to see the Cathedral and Cairnwood and to inform my family and friends of what a “must see” place this is, especially for the Holiday Season.” icon writer, Susan Kelly vonMedicus, works in an unbroken tradition developed during the earliest centuries of Christianity. Her brilliantly painted and gilded icons of biblical stories and characters, saints and other religious topics, together with a well-attended lecture and two workshops proved to be popular with our audiences. In her lecture the artist discussed the symbolism of religious icons and the important place they hold in the prayer life of many Christians. She illustrated the ancient technique of creating egg tempera using ground mineral pigments and the art of gold leaf application. Tours and Outreach This year, 7,000 visitors were introduced to the Museum’s collections and mission through either a guided or self-guided tour. Each adult tour began with an orientation video, introducing visitors to the history of Bryn Athyn and the mission of the Museum. Visitors learn about our schools as they enjoy a spectacular view of both campuses from the tower, and learn about New Church beliefs both through the symbolism in Glencairn’s chapel and the four decorative themes that appear throughout the building – “family,” “school,” “nation,” and “church.” It is through an explanation of these themes that visitors are introduced to the New Church concept of service to the neighbor, the neighbor as an individual, but as increasingly larger communities of individuals, too. The tour invites visitors to look at objects in the collections to see what they can tell us about religious beliefs and how people act from those beliefs, for these objects are the human expressions of faith over time. These objects are gateways through which we can seek to understand the religious beliefs of their creators and the ways in which they sought to act from those beliefs. Two recent surveys show that not only are increasing numbers of people coming to the Museum, but that they appreciate the mission of the Museum and the message they are receiving through their tour. 91% of visitors on one survey reported being “very interested” in what they learned, while 100% on another reported that they would recommend Glencairn to a friend. WINDOWS INTO HEAVEN This is the title of an exhibition of icons that was featured in the upper hall most of the year. In the Orthodox tradition of Christianity an icon is often called a “window into heaven,” because figuratively speaking the viewer is meant to look through it, beyond the surface of the painting into heaven, to the religious subjects depicted. Philadelphia Kudos For A Historic District Tour In May, a group from New England, the Five Col- 94