The General Church of the New Jerusalem, then also referred to as the Academians, was formed in February of 1897. It had been part of a larger group of Swedenborgians called the Convention. Under its leader, Bishop Pendleton, they strove to create an identity for themselves. They insisted theywere not a sect, but rather "...a New Dissipation, the crown of all the churches which have been since the beginning of the world, the glory of the latter days, in which has been fulfilled all prophecy, which can never be destroyed, but which is to last...through endless time, its beneficent influence, and its saving power increasing, among all the nations of the earth from generation to generation.1"
This 'crown of all churches' needs a place where it could establish a community. This was found along the Pennypack and in the surrounding area. This land was purchased by the wealthy plate-glass manufacturer John Pitcairn. When he was done, he had bought approximately 550 acres which was to become the borough of Bryn Athyn, and had spent around $165,0002. This tract of land was situated along Paper Mill Road (now Tomlinson) and the Huntingdon Turnpike.
The bridge over the Pennypack Creek leads by Petter's Mill where Welsh farmers brought their grain to be ground long before Bryn Athyn existed. The train track you see once carried nine trains a day directl between Bryn Athyn and Philidelphia
